Investments in The Kraft Heinz Company - Narrative (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions					1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 07, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 02, 2015 $ / shares	Jul. 01, 2015 USD ($) shares	Jun. 07, 2013 USD ($) shares	Jun. 30, 2015 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Purchase of common stock							$ 5,258
Equity method earnings (losses) on common stock						$ 923	(122)	$ (26)
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method earnings (losses) on common stock						923	(122)	(26)
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage			52.50%
Equity method investment ownership percentage after transactions		26.80%
Equity method earnings (losses) on common stock						923	(122)	(26)
Common stock dividends received						952	366
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and 3G Capital [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage after transactions		51.00%
3G Capital (venture partner) [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage after transactions		24.20%
Common Stock [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Reverse stock split ratio			0.443332
Common Stock [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of shares acquired | shares			262,900,000	425,000,000
Number of shares acquired upon exercise of warrants | shares					46,000,000
Exercise price for warrants, per share | $ / shares					$ 0.01
Purchase of common stock			$ 5,258
Non-cash pre-tax holding gain							6,800
Common Stock [Member] | 3G Capital (venture partner) [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of shares acquired | shares			237,100,000	425,000,000
Purchase of common stock			$ 4,740	$ 4,250
Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment in preferred stock, liquidation value				8,000
Redemption of preferred stock	$ 8,320
Investment in preferred stock, stated dividend rate	9.00%
Dividends earned on preferred stock						$ 180	$ 852	$ 720
Common Stock, Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock and Warrants [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Purchase of preferred stock, common stock and warrants				$ 12,250
Kraft [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ratio of common stock shares issued per Kraft common stock share		1
Dividend received by Kraft shareholders per share | $ / shares		$ 16.50