Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Kaplan China [Member] Kaplan International [Member] school	Sep. 30, 2013 Kaplan China [Member] Kaplan International [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Kaplan China [Member] Kaplan International [Member] Scenario, Forecast [Member] school	Mar. 31, 2013 Daily Herald [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Sale of Publishing Subsidiaries [Member] Scenario, Adjustment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Sale of Publishing Subsidiaries [Member] Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Berkshire Exchange Transaction [Member] Common Class A [Member] Berkshire Hathaway Inc [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Berkshire Exchange Transaction [Member] Common Class B [Member] Berkshire Hathaway Inc [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of schools sold					3		1
Number of Berkshire Shares Exchanged											2,107	1,278
After-tax gain (loss) on sale and/or disposition									$ (3,000,000)	$ 100,000,000
Pre-tax gain (loss) on sale and/or disposition	4,352,000	0	(349,875,000)	70,000		(4,400,000)		(100,000)
Expenses in discontinued operations	2,225,000	178,823,000	39,580,000	507,434,000
Early retirement program expense			$ 8,374,000	$ 22,700,000