Business segment data (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of revenues and earnings by segment

Revenues by segment for the first quarter of 2016 and 2015 were as follows (in millions).

	First Quarter
	2016		2015
Operating Businesses:
Insurance group:
Underwriting:
GEICO	$	6,050	$	5,385
General Re		1,390		1,498
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group		2,243		1,447
Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group		1,441		1,210
Investment income		1,149		1,090
Total insurance group		12,273		10,630
BNSF		4,767		5,602
Berkshire Hathaway Energy		4,118		4,331
Manufacturing		10,554		8,863
McLane Company		11,801		11,643
Service and retailing		5,891		4,521
Finance and financial products		1,726		1,554
		51,130		47,144
Reconciliation of segments to consolidated amount:
Investment and derivative gains/losses		1,040		1,415
Eliminations and other		233		85
	$	52,403	$	48,644

Earnings before income taxes by segment for the first quarter of 2016 and 2015 were as follows (in millions).

	First Quarter
	2016		2015
Operating Businesses:
Insurance group:
Underwriting:
GEICO	$	264	$	160
General Re		42		(47)
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group		(79)		459
Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group		121		175
Investment income		1,142		1,087
Total insurance group		1,490		1,834
BNSF		1,258		1,672
Berkshire Hathaway Energy		569		596
Manufacturing		1,482		1,205
McLane Company		136		131
Service and retailing		324		384
Finance and financial products		478		444
		5,737		6,266
Reconciliation of segments to consolidated amount:
Investment and derivative gains/losses		1,040		1,415
Interest expense, not allocated to segments		(348)		(119)
Eliminations and other		27		85
	$	6,456	$	7,647