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Business segment data - Earnings (loss) before income taxes (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2021
Jun. 30, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Investment and derivative gains (losses) $ 27,394 $ 40,085 $ 33,094 $ (30,190)
Equity method investments 147 (257) 398 43
Earnings (loss) before income taxes 35,721 35,409 50,249 (27,640)
Operating Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 8,623 6,544 16,820 13,390
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 1,921 2,666 4,299 4,775
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 1,456 1,613 2,868 3,260
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 626 2,060 1,649 3,044
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 (327) (1,103) (590) (1,592)
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 166 96 372 63
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 1,979 1,494 3,638 3,078
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 739 533 1,422 952
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 2,714 1,399 5,150 3,510
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 84 44 187 109
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 1,186 408 2,124 966
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Investment and derivative gains (losses) 27,394 40,085 33,094 (30,190)
Interest expense, not allocated to segments (144) (111) (258) (247)
Equity method investments 147 (257) 398 43
Goodwill and intangible impairments   (10,634)   (10,634)
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses $ (299) $ (218) $ 195 $ (2)