The principal amount of new debt issued during the period, excluding premium or discount, if any.

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The unpaid balance of subsidiary debt that the parent entity has guaranteed full payment of present and future obligations when due.

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Aggregate amount of short-term and long-term debt maturing or scheduled to be repaid within the next twelve months following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

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Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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- Definition

Percentage of subsidiary's or equity method investee's stock owned by parent immediately after all stock transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount of reasonable estimate for income tax expense (benefit) for which accounting for tax effect is incomplete pursuant to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2A
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.EE.Q2(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116825942&loc=SL116722634-122817

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Note to Condensed Financial Information - Narrative (Detail) € in Millions, $ in Millions, ¥ in Billions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 JPY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2019 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2018 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2017 EUR (€)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Debt maturities: 2020		$ 10,420
Debt maturities: 2021		5,471
Debt maturities: 2022		4,958
Debt maturities: 2023		9,402
Debt maturities: 2024		5,080
Income tax net benefit - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017			$ (28,200)
Insurance and Other [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Debt maturities: 2020		4,097
Debt maturities: 2021		3,246
Debt maturities: 2022		1,609
Debt maturities: 2023		5,341
Debt maturities: 2024		2,190
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued \| €						€ 6,850	€ 6,850	€ 6,850
Debt maturities: 2020		1,122
Debt maturities: 2021		2,117
Debt maturities: 2022		613
Debt maturities: 2023		3,958
Debt maturities: 2024		2,120
Guarantee of subsidiary debt obligations		$ 12,200
Income tax net benefit - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017			$ 550
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] \| Insurance and Other [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued \| ¥	¥ 430.0
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] \| Heinz Holding Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage after transactions					50.00%
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] \| The Kraft Heinz Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage after transactions		26.60%		26.80%