XML 147 R132.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.6.0.2
Note to Condensed Financial Information - Narrative (Detail)
€ in Millions
1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 07, 2016
USD ($)
Jan. 29, 2016
USD ($)
Jan. 08, 2016
USD ($)
Jul. 02, 2015
Jul. 01, 2015
USD ($)
Jun. 07, 2013
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2016
EUR (€)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Purchase of common stock                 $ 5,258,000,000      
Maturing: 2017               $ 10,256,000,000        
Maturing: 2018               12,011,000,000        
Maturing: 2019               7,396,000,000        
Maturing: 2020               4,389,000,000        
Maturing: 2021               4,342,000,000        
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Repayments of borrowings             $ 750,000,000 1,125,000,000 1,775,000,000 $ 792,000,000    
Maturing: 2017               1,101,000,000        
Maturing: 2018               1,551,000,000        
Maturing: 2019               754,000,000        
Maturing: 2020               1,054,000,000        
Maturing: 2021               1,500,000,000        
Guarantee of subsidiary debt obligations               17,700,000,000        
Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Equity method investment ownership percentage         52.50%              
Equity method investment ownership percentage after transactions       26.80%                
Common Stock, Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock and Warrants [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Purchase of preferred stock, common stock and warrants           $ 12,250,000,000            
Common Stock [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Purchase of common stock         $ 5,258,000,000              
Non-cash pre-tax holding gain on equity method investment                 $ 6,800,000,000      
Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Redemption of preferred stock $ 8,320,000,000                      
Revolving Credit Agreement [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Maximum borrowing capacity     $ 10,000,000,000                  
Term of credit agreement     364 days                  
Precision Castparts Corp. [Member] | Revolving Credit Agreement [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Borrowings under credit agreement   $ 10,000,000,000                    
Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Principal amount of debt issued             750,000,000         € 2,750
Additional Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Principal amount of debt issued                     $ 5,500,000,000  
Notes Due 2020 at 0.50% [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Principal amount of debt issued | €                       € 1,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage                     0.50% 0.50%
Notes Due 2024 at 1.30% [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Principal amount of debt issued | €                       € 1,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage                     1.30% 1.30%
Notes Due 2028 at 2.15% [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Principal amount of debt issued | €                       € 750
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage                     2.15% 2.15%
Notes Due 2021 at 2.20% [Member] | Additional Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Principal amount of debt issued                     $ 1,000,000,000  
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage                     2.20% 2.20%
Notes Due 2023 at 2.75% [Member] | Additional Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Principal amount of debt issued                     $ 2,000,000,000  
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage                     2.75% 2.75%
Notes Due 2026 at 3.125% [Member] | Additional Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Principal amount of debt issued                     $ 2,500,000,000  
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage                     3.125% 3.125%
Notes Due 2018 at 1.15% [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Principal amount of debt issued             $ 500,000,000          
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage             1.15%          
Notes Due 2018, Floating Rate [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Principal amount of debt issued             $ 250,000,000          
Equity Index Put Options [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                        
Guarantee of subsidiary obligations under derivative liability contracts               $ 2,900,000,000