Accumulated other comprehensive income

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Equity [Abstract]

Accumulated other comprehensive income

(22) Accumulated other comprehensive income

A summary of the net changes in after-tax accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders and amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income for each of the three years ending December 31, 2019 follows (in millions).

	Unrealized appreciation of investments, net			Foreign currency translation			Defined benefit pension plans			Other			Accumulated other comprehensive income
Balance December 31, 2016	$	43,176		$	(5,268	)	$	(593	)	$	(17	)	$	37,298
Other comprehensive income, net before reclassifications		19,826			2,151			65			16			22,058
Reclassifications into net earnings:
Reclassifications before income taxes		(1,399	)		3			155			19			(1,222	)
Applicable income taxes		490			—			(47	)		(6	)		437
Balance December 31, 2017		62,093			(3,114	)		(420	)		12			58,571
Reclassifications to retained earnings upon    adoption of new accounting standards		(61,340	)		(65	)		36			(6	)		(61,375	)
Other comprehensive income, net before reclassifications		(183	)		(1,424	)		(513	)		25			(2,095	)
Reclassifications into net earnings:
Reclassifications before income taxes		(253	)		—			116			5			(132	)
Applicable income taxes		53			—			(35	)		(2	)		16
Balance December 31, 2018		370			(4,603	)		(816	)		34			(5,015	)
Other comprehensive income, net before reclassifications		160			257			(644	)		(48	)		(275	)
Reclassifications into net earnings:
Reclassifications before income taxes		(62	)		—			95			9			42
Applicable income taxes		13			—			(4	)		(4	)		5
Balance December 31, 2019	$	481		$	(4,346	)	$	(1,369	)	$	(9	)	$	(5,243	)