Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Revenues:
Sales and service revenues		$ 44,460	$ 44,255	$ 86,852	$ 85,764
Leasing revenues		1,491		2,927
Total revenues		63,598	62,200	124,276	120,673
Investment and derivative contract gains (losses):
Investment gains (losses)		9,835	5,990	29,387	(1,819)
Derivative contract gains (losses)		213	372	983	166
Investment and derivative gains/losses		10,048	6,362	30,370	(1,653)
Costs and expenses:
Total costs and expenses		56,011	53,791	109,532	106,173
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity method earnings		17,635	14,771	45,114	12,847
Equity method earnings		124	327	292	728
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		17,759	15,098	45,406	13,575
Income tax expense (benefit)		3,586	3,021	9,501	2,569
Net earnings (loss)		14,173	12,077	35,905	11,006
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		100	66	171	133
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ 14,073	$ 12,011	$ 35,734	$ 10,873
Equivalent Class A [Member]
Costs and expenses:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent share		$ 8,608	$ 7,301	$ 21,824	$ 6,610
Average equivalent shares outstanding		1,634,962	1,645,057	1,637,378	1,645,008
Equivalent Class B [Member]
Costs and expenses:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent share	[1]	$ 5.74	$ 4.87	$ 14.55	$ 4.41
Average equivalent shares outstanding		2,452,442,401	2,467,585,853	2,456,067,007	2,467,511,782
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 14,863	$ 14,149	$ 29,182	$ 27,522
Sales and service revenues		34,128	33,778	66,537	65,660
Leasing revenues		1,491	1,470	2,927	2,904
Interest, dividend and other investment income		2,295	1,908	4,412	3,590
Total revenues		52,777	51,305	103,058	99,676
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		10,669	9,401	20,843	18,364
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		1,165	1,418	2,069	2,705
Insurance underwriting expenses		2,569	2,123	5,325	4,727
Cost of sales and services		27,047	26,709	52,814	52,170
Cost of leasing		1,000	988	2,020	1,971
Selling, general and administrative expenses		4,829	4,232	9,261	8,940
Interest expense		267	255	529	520
Total costs and expenses		47,546	45,126	92,861	89,397
Freight Rail Transportation [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues		5,851	5,845	11,576	11,435
Costs and expenses:
Expenses		3,885	3,974	7,867	7,826
Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Sales and service revenues		3,566	3,720	7,391	7,399
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and other expenses		2,680	2,856	5,522	5,656
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Service revenues and other income		1,404	1,330	2,251	2,163
Total revenues		10,821	10,895	21,218	20,997
Costs and expenses:
Other expenses		1,175	1,133	1,828	1,882
Interest expense		725	702	1,454	1,412
Total costs and expenses		$ 8,465	$ 8,665	$ 16,671	$ 16,776

[1] Class B shares are economically equivalent to one-fifteen-hundredth of a Class A share. Accordingly, net earnings per average equivalent Class B share outstanding is equal to one-fifteen-hundredth of the equivalent Class A amount.