Quarterly data

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Quarterly data

(28) Quarterly data

A summary of revenues and net earnings by quarter for each of the last two years follows. This information is unaudited. Amounts are in millions, except per share amounts.

	1st Quarter			2nd Quarter		3rd Quarter		4th Quarter
2019
Revenues	$	60,678		$	63,598	$	64,972	$	65,368
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire shareholders *		21,661			14,073		16,524		29,159
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire shareholders per    equivalent Class A common share		13,209			8,608		10,119		17,909
2018
Revenues	$	58,473		$	62,200	$	63,450	$	63,714
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire shareholders *		(1,138	)		12,011		18,540		(25,392	)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire shareholders per    equivalent Class A common share		(692	)		7,301		11,280		(15,467	)

* Includes after-tax investment and derivative gains/losses as follows:

	1st Quarter			2nd Quarter		3rd Quarter		4th Quarter
2019	$	16,106		$	7,934	$	8,666	$	24,739
2018		(6,426	)		5,118		11,660		(28,089	)