XML 106 R93.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.7.0.1
Business segment data - Revenues by segment (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues $ 57,518 $ 54,254 $ 122,705 $ 106,417
Operating Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 57,426 53,543 121,909 104,673
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest, dividend and other investment income 1,284 1,236 2,416 2,385
Revenues 13,651 12,035 36,536 24,308
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 7,244 6,247 14,089 12,297
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | General Re [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 1,578 1,389 2,969 2,779
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 1,786 1,652 13,627 3,895
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 1,759 1,511 3,435 2,952
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 5,250 4,585 10,435 9,352
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 4,623 4,299 8,880 8,417
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 12,738 12,201 24,835 22,755
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 12,581 12,049 24,682 23,850
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 6,550 6,385 12,643 12,276
Operating Businesses [Member] | Finance and Financial Products Reportable Segment [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 2,033 1,989 3,898 3,715
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Investment and derivative gains/losses 225 663 1,000 1,703
Eliminations and Other [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues $ (133) $ 48 $ (204) $ 41