Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Revenues:
Leasing revenues		$ 1,672	$ 1,324
Total revenues		70,810	64,599
Investment and derivative contract gains (losses)		(1,978)	5,700
Costs and expenses:
Total costs and expenses		62,396	56,022
Earnings before income taxes and equity method earnings		6,436	14,277
Equity method earnings		376	251
Earnings before income taxes		6,812	14,528
Income tax expense		1,227	2,688
Net earnings		5,585	11,840
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		125	129
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ 5,460	$ 11,711
Equivalent Class A [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings per average equivalent share		$ 3,702	$ 7,638
Average equivalent shares outstanding		1,474,703	1,533,284
Equivalent Class B [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings per average equivalent share	[1]	$ 2.47	$ 5.09
Average equivalent shares outstanding		2,212,054,009	2,299,925,502
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 17,492	$ 16,424
Sales and service revenues		37,862	33,698
Leasing revenues		1,672	1,324
Interest, dividend and other investment income		1,862	1,851
Total revenues		58,888	53,297
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		13,332	10,964
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		1,323	1,480
Insurance underwriting expenses		2,767	3,014
Cost of sales and services		29,785	26,530
Cost of leasing		1,232	882
Selling, general and administrative expenses		4,251	3,910
Interest expense		264	276
Total costs and expenses		52,954	47,056
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Freight rail transportation revenues		5,944	5,378
Energy operating revenues		4,818	4,848
Service revenues and other income		1,160	1,076
Total revenues		11,922	11,302
Costs and expenses:
Freight rail transportation expenses		3,925	3,510
Utilities and energy cost of sales and other expenses		3,591	3,589
Other expenses		1,156	1,093
Interest expense		770	774
Total costs and expenses		$ 9,442	$ 8,966

[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 17.