Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Sales and service revenues		$ 125,700	$ 112,400	$ 102,200
Investment gains/losses		7,553	9,373	3,575
Total revenues		223,604	210,943	194,699
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		30,906	26,527	26,406
Interest expense		3,497	3,515	3,253
Total costs and expenses		190,860	175,875	166,568
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of Kraft Heinz Company		32,744	35,068	28,131
Equity in earnings (losses) of Kraft Heinz Company		923	(122)	(26)
Earnings before income taxes		33,667	34,946	28,105
Income tax expense		9,240	10,532	7,935
Net earnings		24,427	24,414	20,170
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		353	331	298
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ 24,074	$ 24,083	$ 19,872
Class A [Member]
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders:
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders	[1]	$ 14,645	$ 14,656	$ 12,092
Average equivalent Class A shares outstanding	[1]	1,643,826	1,643,183	1,643,456
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 45,881	$ 41,294	$ 41,253
Sales and service revenues		119,489	107,001	97,097
Interest, dividend and other investment income		4,725	5,357	5,052
Investment gains/losses		5,128	9,363	3,503
Total revenues		175,223	163,015	146,905
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		30,906	26,527	26,406
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		5,131	5,413	5,181
Insurance underwriting expenses		7,713	7,517	6,998
Cost of sales and services		95,754	87,029	78,873
Selling, general and administrative expenses		16,478	13,723	12,198
Interest expense		445	460	419
Total costs and expenses		156,427	140,669	130,075
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues		37,542	40,004	40,690
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses		26,194	27,650	29,378
Interest expense		2,642	2,653	2,378
Total costs and expenses		28,836	30,303	31,756
Finance and Financial Products [Member]
Revenues:
Sales and service revenues		6,208	5,430	5,094
Interest, dividend and other investment income		1,455	1,510	1,432
Investment gains/losses		2,425	10	72
Derivative gains/losses		751	974	506
Total revenues		10,839	7,924	7,104
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and services		3,448	2,915	2,758
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,739	1,586	1,523
Interest expense		410	402	456
Total costs and expenses		$ 5,597	$ 4,903	$ 4,737

[1] 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 of the equivalent Class A amount or $9.76 for 2016, $9.77 for 2015 and $8.06 for 2014.