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Note to Condensed Financial Information - Narrative (Detail)
€ in Millions, $ in Millions
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Jul. 02, 2015
Jun. 30, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2017
EUR (€)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Income tax net benefit - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017       $ 28,200 $ 28,200  
Debt maturities: 2018 $ 18,061     18,061 18,061  
Debt maturities: 2019 7,799     7,799 7,799  
Debt maturities: 2020 4,976     4,976 4,976  
Debt maturities: 2021 5,081     5,081 5,081  
Debt maturities: 2022 5,020     5,020 5,020  
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Income tax net benefit - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017         550  
Debt maturities: 2018 1,550     1,550 1,550  
Debt maturities: 2019 753     753 753  
Debt maturities: 2020 1,203     1,203 1,203  
Debt maturities: 2021 2,160     2,160 2,160  
Debt maturities: 2022 613     613 613  
Guarantee of subsidiary debt obligations $ 14,800     $ 14,800 14,800  
Kraft Heinz (previously Heinz Holding) [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Equity method investment ownership percentage after transactions 26.70% 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      
Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Principal amount of debt issued | €           € 1,100
Notes Due 2021 at 0.25% [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Principal amount of debt issued | €           € 550
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage           0.25%
Notes Due 2023 at 0.625% [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Principal amount of debt issued | €           € 550
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage           0.625%
Euro Denominated [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Principal amount of debt issued | €           € 6,850
Euro Denominated [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Interest Expense [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Revaluation attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates         $ 990