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Business segment data - Earnings (loss) before income taxes (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Investment and derivative contract gains (losses) $ 40,085 $ 10,048 $ (30,190) $ 30,370
Equity method earnings (losses) (257) 124 43 292
Earnings (loss) before income taxes 35,409 17,759 (27,640) 45,406
Operating Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 6,544 7,802 13,390 14,905
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 2,666 2,105 4,775 4,077
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Interest, Dividend and Other Investment Income [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 1,613 1,649 3,260 3,134
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 2,060 393 3,044 1,163
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses (1,103) (104) (1,592) (357)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 96 167 63 137
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 1,494 1,773 3,078 3,438
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 533 593 952 1,133
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 1,399 2,527 3,510 4,721
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 44 59 109 170
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 408 745 966 1,366
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Investment and derivative contract gains (losses) 40,085 10,048 (30,190) 30,370
Interest expense, not allocated to segments (111) (107) (247) (216)
Equity method earnings (losses) (257) 124 43 292
Goodwill and intangible asset impairments (10,634)   (10,634)  
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses $ (218) $ (108) $ (2) $ 55