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Business segment data - Earnings (loss) before income taxes (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Investment and derivative gains/losses $ 40,746 $ 72,607 $ (22,455)
Interest expense (4,083) (3,961) (3,853)
Equity method investments 726 1,176 (2,167)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes 55,693 102,696 4,001
Operating Businesses [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 26,947 29,250 29,156
Interest expense (3,776) (3,743) (3,614)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 6,787 7,017 7,513
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 838 417 2,010
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 5,949 6,600 5,503
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 3,428 1,506 2,449
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 (2,700) (1,472) (1,109)
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 110 383 670
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 6,792 7,250 6,863
Interest expense (1,037) (1,070) (1,041)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 2,479 2,618 2,472
Interest expense (1,941) (1,835) (1,777)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 8,010 9,522 9,366
Interest expense (737) (752) (690)
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 251 288 246
Interest expense     (15)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 2,628 2,555 2,696
Interest expense (61) (86) (91)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Investment and derivative gains/losses 40,746 72,607 (22,455)
Interest expense (483) (416) (458)
Equity method investments 726 1,176 (2,167)
Goodwill and intangible asset impairments (10,671) (96) (382)
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses (1,572) 175 307
Interest expense $ 176 $ 198 $ 219