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Business segment data (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues $ 52,403 $ 48,644
Total earnings before income taxes 6,456 7,647
Operating Businesses [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 51,130 47,144
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 5,737 6,266
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Interest, dividend and other investment income 1,149 1,090
Revenues 12,273 10,630
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,490 1,834
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Premiums earned 6,050 5,385
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 264 160
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | General Re [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Premiums earned 1,390 1,498
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 42 (47)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Premiums earned 2,243 1,447
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses (79) 459
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Premiums earned 1,441 1,210
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 121 175
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | Interest, Dividend and Other Investment Income [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,142 1,087
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 4,767 5,602
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,258 1,672
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 4,118 4,331
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 569 596
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 10,554 8,863
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,482 1,205
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 11,801 11,643
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 136 131
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 5,891 4,521
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 324 384
Operating Businesses [Member] | Finance and Financial Products Reportable Segment [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 1,726 1,554
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 478 444
Intersegment Eliminations and Other Reconciling Items [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Investment and derivative gains/losses 1,040 1,415
Revenues 233 85
Interest expense (348) (119)
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses $ 27 $ 85