XML 110 R97.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.10.0.1
Business segment data - Earnings before income taxes by segment (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Sep. 30, 2017
Sep. 30, 2018
Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Investment and derivative contract gains/losses $ 14,706 $ 965 $ 13,053 $ 1,965
Earnings before income taxes 23,147 5,630 36,722 17,447
Operating Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 8,312 5,024 23,260 16,626
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 2,054 (963) 6,373 1,046
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Interest, Dividend and Other Investment Income [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,455 1,246 4,052 3,658
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 627 (416) 1,977 (122)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses (163) (1,845) (124) (2,963)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 135 52 468 473
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,879 1,710 5,047 4,592
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,165 1,243 2,238 2,481
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 2,012 2,002 6,002 5,428
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 44 45 171 202
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 628 491 1,840 1,439
Operating Businesses [Member] | Finance and Financial Products Reportable Segment [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 530 496 1,589 1,438
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Investment and derivative contract gains/losses 14,706 965 13,053 1,965
Interest expense (60) (386) (77) (1,243)
Equity method investments 316 305 1,044 932
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses $ (127) $ (278) $ (558) $ (833)