XML 133 R116.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.8.0.1
Business segment data - Revenues (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Sep. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2017
Mar. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues $ 58,907 $ 60,525 $ 57,518 $ 65,187 $ 58,344 $ 58,843 $ 54,254 $ 52,163 $ 242,137 $ 223,604 $ 210,943
Operating Businesses [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 240,743 215,825 200,843
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Premiums earned                 60,597 45,881 41,294
Interest, dividend and other investment income                 4,911 4,522 4,562
Revenues                 65,508 50,403 45,856
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Premiums earned                 29,441 25,483 22,718
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Premiums earned                 24,013 14,141 13,182
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Premiums earned                 7,143 6,257 5,394
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 21,387 19,829 21,967
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 18,939 17,859 18,231
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 50,445 46,506 36,136
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 49,775 48,075 48,223
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 26,313 25,478 23,466
Operating Businesses [Member] | Finance and Financial Products Reportable Segment [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 8,376 7,675 6,964
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Investment and derivative gains/losses                 2,128 8,304 10,347
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Investments in Kraft Heinz                   180 852
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 $ (734) $ (705) $ (1,099)