Income Taxes - Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Foreign carryforwards	$ 97
Deferred Tax Assets, Foreign Tax Credit, Years To Expiration	10 years
Federal [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 179	[1]
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards	65
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards	128	[2]
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	11,549	[1]
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards	674
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards	25	[2]
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	352	[1]
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards	95
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards	0
Income Tax Authority, Name [Domain]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	12,080	[1]
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards	834
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards	$ 153
Minimum [Member] | Federal [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2023
Tax Credit Carryforward, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2023
Minimum [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2017
Tax Credit Carryforward, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Maximum [Member] | Federal [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2025
Maximum [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2036

[1] The federal net operating loss carry forwards relate principally to net operating loss carry forwards of subsidiaries that are tax residents in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The federal net operating loss carry forwards were generated prior to Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s ownership and will begin to expire in 2023.

[2] Includes $97 million of deferred foreign tax credits associated with the federal income tax on unremitted tax earnings and profit pools that will begin to be creditable and expire 10 years after the date the foreign earnings are repatriated through actual or deemed dividends. As of December 31, 2016 the statute of limitation had not begun on the foreign tax credit carryforwards.