Contingencies and Commitments	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies and Commitments	Note 21. Contingencies and commitments We are parties in a variety of legal actions that routinely arise out of the normal course of business, including legal actions seeking to establish liability directly through insurance contracts or indirectly through reinsurance contracts issued by Berkshire subsidiaries. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. We do not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Berkshire and certain of its subsidiaries are also involved in other kinds of legal actions, some of which assert or may assert claims or seek to impose fines and penalties. We believe that any liability that may arise as a result of other pending legal actions will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Berkshire and Alleghany Corporation (“Alleghany”) entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger dated as of March 20, 2022, whereby Berkshire will acquire all of Alleghany’s outstanding common stock for cash of approximately $11.6 billion. The Alleghany shareholders voted to approve and adopt the agreement and plan of merger on June 9, 2022. The acquisition of Alleghany is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022 and is subject to the receipt of various regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Alleghany owns property and casualty reinsurance and insurance businesses as well as a diverse portfolio of non-financial businesses. In June 2022, BHE acquired the BHE common stock held by Greg Abel, Berkshire’s Vice Chairman - non-insurance operations, for $870 million. The purchase was pursuant to the terms of a shareholders agreement between Berkshire, BHE and BHE’s non-controlling shareholders. Berkshire recorded a charge of $362 million to capital in excess of par value for the excess of the consideration paid over the carrying value of the acquired noncontrolling interest.

Contingencies and Commitments

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Note 21. Contingencies and commitments

We are parties in a variety of legal actions that routinely arise out of the normal course of business, including legal actions seeking to establish liability directly through insurance contracts or indirectly through reinsurance contracts issued by Berkshire subsidiaries. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. We do not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Berkshire and certain of its subsidiaries are also involved in other kinds of legal actions, some of which assert or may assert claims or seek to impose fines and penalties. We believe that any liability that may arise as a result of other pending legal actions will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Berkshire and Alleghany Corporation (“Alleghany”) entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger dated as of March 20, 2022, whereby Berkshire will acquire all of Alleghany’s outstanding common stock for cash of approximately $11.6 billion. The Alleghany shareholders voted to approve and adopt the agreement and plan of merger on June 9, 2022. The acquisition of Alleghany is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022 and is subject to the receipt of various regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Alleghany owns property and casualty reinsurance and insurance businesses as well as a diverse portfolio of non-financial businesses.

In June 2022, BHE acquired the BHE common stock held by Greg Abel, Berkshire’s Vice Chairman - non-insurance operations, for $870 million. The purchase was pursuant to the terms of a shareholders agreement between Berkshire, BHE and BHE’s non-controlling shareholders. Berkshire recorded a charge of $362 million to capital in excess of par value for the excess of the consideration paid over the carrying value of the acquired noncontrolling interest.