Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues:
Investment gains/losses		$ 3,150	$ 8,266	$ 5,643	$ 8,725
Total revenues		59,068	58,989	165,931	159,001
Costs and expenses:
Total costs and expenses		48,543	44,917	141,578	131,436
Earnings before income taxes		10,525	14,072	24,353	27,565
Income tax expense		3,192	4,545	6,281	8,698
Net earnings		7,333	9,527	18,072	18,867
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		135	99	284	262
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ 7,198	$ 9,428	$ 17,788	$ 18,605
Class A [Member]
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders:
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders	[1]	$ 4,379	$ 5,737	$ 10,822	$ 11,323
Average equivalent Class A Shares outstanding	[1]	1,643,913	1,643,316	1,643,716	1,643,118
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 11,364	$ 10,514	$ 33,287	$ 30,454
Sales and service revenues		30,536	27,436	89,357	80,169
Interest, dividend and other investment income		1,276	1,132	4,284	3,758
Investment gains/losses		735	8,339	3,221	8,571
Total revenues		43,911	47,421	130,149	122,952
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		7,615	6,831	22,325	19,524
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		1,339	1,165	3,747	4,083
Insurance underwriting expenses		2,001	1,875	5,948	5,505
Cost of sales and services		24,472	22,297	71,617	65,145
Selling, general and administrative expenses		3,959	3,721	11,747	10,177
Interest expense		259	88	674	449
Total costs and expenses		39,645	35,977	116,058	104,883
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues		10,330	10,697	28,026	30,454
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses		6,763	7,018	19,421	20,985
Interest expense		681	672	1,962	1,957
Total costs and expenses		7,444	7,690	21,383	22,942
Finance and Financial Products [Member]
Revenues:
Sales and service revenues		1,588	1,379	4,557	3,984
Interest, dividend and other investment income		366	329	1,109	1,077
Investment gains/losses		2,415	(73)	2,422	154
Derivative gains/losses		458	(764)	(332)	380
Total revenues		4,827	871	7,756	5,595
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and services		886	736	2,529	2,134
Selling, general and administrative expenses		465	409	1,301	1,176
Interest expense		103	105	307	301
Total costs and expenses		$ 1,454	$ 1,250	$ 4,137	$ 3,611

[1] Average shares outstanding and net earnings per share are shown on an equivalent Class A common stock basis. Equivalent Class B shares outstanding are 1,500 times the equivalent Class A amount. Net earnings per equivalent Class B share outstanding are one-fifteen-hundredth (1/1,500) of the equivalent Class A amount.