Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Revenues:
Leasing revenues		$ 5,988	$ 5,209	$ 5,856
Total revenues		276,094	245,510	254,616
Investment and derivative contract gains		78,542	40,746	72,607
Costs and expenses:
Interest expense		4,172	4,083	3,961
Total costs and expenses		243,945	231,289	225,703
Earnings before income taxes and equity method earnings		110,691	54,967	101,520
Equity method earnings		995	726	1,176
Earnings before income taxes		111,686	55,693	102,696
Income tax expense		20,879	12,440	20,904
Net earnings		90,807	43,253	81,792
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		1,012	732	375
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ 89,795	$ 42,521	$ 81,417
Equivalent Class A [Member]
Costs and expenses:
Net earnings per average equivalent share		$ 59,460	$ 26,668	$ 49,828
Average equivalent shares outstanding		1,510,180	1,594,469	1,633,946
Equivalent Class B [Member]
Costs and expenses:
Net earnings per average equivalent share	[1]	$ 39.64	$ 17.78	$ 33.22
Average equivalent shares outstanding		2,265,269,867	2,391,703,454	2,450,919,020
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 69,478	$ 63,401	$ 61,078
Sales and service revenues		145,043	127,044	134,989
Leasing revenues		5,988	5,209	5,856
Interest, dividend and other investment income		7,465	8,092	9,240
Total revenues		227,974	203,746	211,163
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		49,964	43,951	44,456
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		6,007	5,812	4,986
Insurance underwriting expenses		12,569	12,798	11,200
Cost of sales and services		114,138	101,091	107,041
Cost of leasing		4,201	3,520	4,003
Selling, general and administrative expenses		18,843	19,809	19,226
Goodwill and intangible asset impairments			10,671	96
Interest expense		1,086	1,105	1,056
Total costs and expenses		206,808	198,757	192,064
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Freight rail transportation revenues		23,177	20,750	23,357
Energy operating revenues		18,891	15,540	15,353
Service revenues and other income		6,052	5,474	4,743
Total revenues		48,120	41,764	43,453
Costs and expenses:
Expenses		14,477	13,120	15,436
Cost of sales and other expenses		13,959	11,638	11,296
Other expenses		5,615	4,796	4,002
Interest expense		3,086	2,978	2,905
Total costs and expenses		$ 37,137	$ 32,532	$ 33,639

[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 21.