Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 29,713		$ 12,697
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows:
Investment gains/losses	(12,750)		(1,262)
Depreciation and amortization	7,169		6,835
Other	(677)		1,110
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Losses and loss adjustment expenses	2,272		22,615
Deferred charges reinsurance assumed	827		(5,525)
Unearned premiums	2,974		2,253
Receivables and originated loans	(4,781)		(2,890)
Other assets	(1,788)		(1,287)
Other liabilities	805		360
Income taxes	2,791		2,593
Net cash flows from operating activities	26,555		37,499
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of U.S. Treasury Bills and fixed maturity securities	(85,502)		(106,597)
Purchases of equity securities	(38,552)		(14,936)
Sales of U.S. Treasury Bills and fixed maturity securities	26,903		35,143
Redemptions and maturities of U.S. Treasury Bills and fixed maturity securities	83,742		65,666
Sales and redemptions of equity securities	14,164		10,572
Purchases of loans and finance receivables	(1,748)		(1,392)
Collections of loans and finance receivables	266		1,599
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(521)		(2,640)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(10,040)		(8,411)
Other	257		(150)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(11,031)		(21,146)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in short term borrowings, net	(2,754)		122
Acquisition of treasury stock	(928)
Other	(277)		(108)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(5,526)		(1,867)
Effects of foreign currency exchange rate changes	(109)		222
Increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	9,889		14,708
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year	32,212		28,643
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of third quarter	42,101		43,351
Restricted cash, included in other assets at beginning of year	629		595
Restricted cash, included in other assets at end of third quarter	663		645
Insurance and Other [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	55		1,321
Repayments of borrowings	(2,661)		(1,763)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	25,460	[1]	23,581
Cash and cash equivalents at end of third quarter	36,506	[1]	35,247
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	7,019		2,812
Repayments of borrowings	(3,658)		(1,944)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	2,910	[1]	3,939
Cash and cash equivalents at end of third quarter	3,297	[1]	4,448
Finance and Financial Products [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	2,339		1,298
Repayments of borrowings	(4,661)		(3,605)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	3,213	[1]	528
Cash and cash equivalents at end of third quarter	$ 1,635	[1]	$ 3,011

[1] Cash and cash equivalents includes U.S. Treasury Bills with maturities of three months or less when purchased of $14.7 billion at September 30, 2018 and $5.7 billion at December 31, 2017.