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Business segment data - Revenues by segment (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues $ 59,068 $ 58,989 $ 165,931 $ 159,001
Operating Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 55,418 51,625 160,091 150,329
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest, dividend and other investment income 1,043 1,046 3,428 3,474
Revenues 12,407 11,560 36,715 33,928
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 6,474 5,788 18,771 16,792
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | General Re [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 1,389 1,405 4,168 4,397
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 1,872 1,892 5,767 5,317
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 1,629 1,429 4,581 3,948
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 5,167 5,600 14,519 16,571
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 5,198 5,144 13,615 14,018
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 12,082 9,181 34,837 27,568
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 12,271 12,264 36,121 36,200
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 6,331 6,151 18,607 16,966
Operating Businesses [Member] | Finance and Financial Products Reportable Segment [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 1,962 1,725 5,677 5,078
Intersegment Eliminations and Other Reconciling Items [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues (183) (236) (322) (762)
Investment and derivative gains/losses 3,608 7,502 5,311 9,105
Intersegment Eliminations and Other Reconciling Items [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Income from Kraft Heinz $ 225 $ 98 $ 851 $ 329