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Accumulated other comprehensive income (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Equity [Abstract]  
Schedule of accumulated other comprehensive income

A summary of the net changes in after-tax accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders for each of the three years ending December 31, 2020 follows (in millions).

 

 

 

Unrealized

appreciation of

investments, net

 

 

Foreign

currency

translation

 

 

Defined benefit

pension plans

 

 

Other

 

 

Accumulated

other

comprehensive

income

 

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

 

 

(383

)

 

 

(1,424

)

 

 

(432

)

 

 

28

 

 

 

(2,211

)

Balance December 31, 2018

 

 

370

 

 

 

(4,603

)

 

 

(816

)

 

 

34

 

 

 

(5,015

)

Other comprehensive income, net

 

 

111

 

 

 

257

 

 

 

(553

)

 

 

(43

)

 

 

(228

)

Balance December 31, 2019

 

 

481

 

 

 

(4,346

)

 

 

(1,369

)

 

 

(9

)

 

 

(5,243

)

Other comprehensive income, net

 

 

55

 

 

 

1,264

 

 

 

(276

)

 

 

(43

)

 

 

1,000

 

Balance December 31, 2020

 

$

536

 

 

$

(3,082

)

 

$

(1,645

)

 

$

(52

)

 

$

(4,243

)