Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021		Dec. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 90,807		$ 43,253		$ 81,792
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows:
Investment (gains) losses	(77,576)		(40,905)		(71,123)
Depreciation and amortization	10,718		10,596		10,064
Other, including asset impairment charges	(3,397)		11,263		(1,254)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses	4,595		4,819		6,087
Deferred charges - retroactive reinsurance	1,802		1,307		357
Unearned premiums	2,306		1,587		1,707
Receivables and originated loans	(5,834)		(1,609)		(2,303)
Other assets	(1,686)		(1,109)		(2,011)
Other liabilities	2,389		3,376		190
Income taxes	15,297		7,195		15,181
Net cash flows from operating activities	39,421		39,773		38,687
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of equity securities	(8,448)		(30,161)		(18,642)
Sales of equity securities	15,849		38,756		14,336
Purchases of U.S. Treasury Bills and fixed maturity securities	(152,637)		(208,429)		(136,123)
Sales of U.S. Treasury Bills and fixed maturity securities	27,188		31,873		15,929
Redemptions and maturities of U.S. Treasury Bills and fixed maturity securities	160,402		149,709		137,767
Purchases of loans and finance receivables	(88)		(772)		(75)
Collections of loans and finance receivables	561		393		345
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(456)		(2,532)		(1,683)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment and equipment held for lease	(13,276)		(13,012)		(15,979)
Other	297		(3,582)		(1,496)
Net cash flows from investing activities	29,392		(37,757)		(5,621)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in short term borrowings, net	(624)		(1,118)		266
Acquisition of treasury stock	(27,061)		(24,706)		(4,850)
Other	(695)		(429)		(497)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(28,508)		(18,344)		730
Effects of foreign currency exchange rate changes	5		92		25
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	40,310		(16,236)		33,821
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year	48,396		64,632		30,811
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	88,706		48,396		64,632
Restricted cash, included in other assets at end of year	$ 522		$ 406		$ 457
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration]	Other		Other		Other
Insurance and Other [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	$ 2,961		$ 5,925		$ 8,144
Repayments of borrowings	(3,032)		(2,700)		(5,095)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	85,319	[1]	44,714	[1]	61,151
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	3,959		8,445		5,400
Repayments of borrowings	(4,016)		(3,761)		(2,638)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 2,865	[1]	$ 3,276	[1]	$ 3,024

[1] Includes U.S. Treasury Bills with maturities of three months or less when purchased of $61.7 billion at December 31, 2021 and $23.2 billion at December 31, 2020.