Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Revenues:
Sales and service revenues		$ 37,378	$ 44,460	$ 78,830	$ 86,852
Leasing revenues		1,161	1,491	2,589	2,927
Total revenues		56,840	63,598	118,105	124,276
Investment and derivative contract gains (losses)		40,085	10,048	(30,190)	30,370
Costs and expenses:
Total costs and expenses		61,259	56,011	115,598	109,532
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity method earnings		35,666	17,635	(27,683)	45,114
Equity method earnings (loss)		(257)	124	43	292
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		35,409	17,759	(27,640)	45,406
Income tax expense (benefit)		9,002	3,586	(4,350)	9,501
Net earnings (loss)		26,407	14,173	(23,290)	35,905
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		112	100	161	171
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ 26,295	$ 14,073	$ (23,451)	$ 35,734
Equivalent Class A [Member]
Costs and expenses:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent share		$ 16,314	$ 8,608	$ (14,500)	$ 21,824
Average equivalent shares outstanding		1,611,760	1,634,962	1,617,325	1,637,378
Equivalent Class B [Member]
Costs and expenses:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent share	[1]	$ 10.88	$ 5.74	$ (9.67)	$ 14.55
Average equivalent shares outstanding		2,417,640,311	2,452,442,401	2,425,986,839	2,456,067,007
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 15,595	$ 14,863	$ 31,343	$ 29,182
Sales and service revenues		28,703	34,128	60,629	66,537
Leasing revenues		1,161	1,491	2,589	2,927
Interest, dividend and other investment income		2,150	2,295	4,426	4,412
Total revenues		47,609	52,777	98,987	103,058
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		10,066	10,669	21,045	20,843
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		1,407	1,165	2,790	2,069
Insurance underwriting expenses		3,067	2,569	5,991	5,325
Cost of sales and services		23,216	27,047	48,608	52,814
Cost of leasing		749	1,000	1,751	2,020
Selling, general and administrative expenses		4,652	4,829	9,123	9,261
Goodwill and intangible asset impairments		10,634		10,634
Interest expense		258	267	554	529
Total costs and expenses		54,049	47,546	100,496	92,861
Freight Rail Transportation [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues		4,573	5,851	9,953	11,576
Costs and expenses:
Expenses		2,871	3,885	6,464	7,867
Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Sales and service revenues		3,419	3,566	7,053	7,391
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and other expenses		2,503	2,680	5,225	5,522
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Service revenues and other income		1,239	1,404	2,112	2,251
Total revenues		9,231	10,821	19,118	21,218
Costs and expenses:
Other expenses		1,092	1,175	1,941	1,828
Interest expense		744	725	1,472	1,454
Total costs and expenses		$ 7,210	$ 8,465	$ 15,102	$ 16,671

[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. See Note 18.