Reg S-K
Item 601
Exhibit 12

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
Calculation of Ratio of Consolidated Earnings to Consolidated Fixed Charges
(Dollars in millions)

		Years Ended December 31,
		2002			2001			2000			1999		1998
Net earnings		$	4,286		$	795		$	3,328		$	1,557	$	2,830
	Income tax expense		2,134			620			2,018			852		1,457
	Minority interest in earnings		15			54			241			41		27
	Earnings from investments in MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company		(317	)		(115	)		(66	)		—		—
	Fixed charges*		837			1,069			986			773		163
Earnings available for fixed charges		$	6,955		$	2,423		$	6,507		$	3,223	$	4,477
Realized investment gains, pretax, included in earnings available for fixed charges		$	637		$	1,363		$	3,955		$	1,365	$	2,415
Fixed charges*
	Interest on indebtedness (including amortization of debt discount and expense)	$	725		$	968		$	916		$	715	$	130
	Rentals representing interest		112			101			70			58		33
		$	837		$	1,069		$	986		$	773	$	163
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges*			8.31x			2.27x			6.60x			4.17x		27.47x
Ratio of earnings, excluding realized investment gains, to fixed charges*			7.55x			0.99x			2.59x			2.40x		12.65x

* Includes fixed charges of finance businesses. Fixed charges of finance businesses were as follows:

2002		2001		2000		1999		1998
$	535	$	762	$	774	$	586	$	21

     Excluding fixed charges of finance businesses the ratios of earnings to fixed charges were as follows:

	2002		2001		2000		1999		1998
Including realized investment gains		21.26x		5.41x		27.04x		14.10x		31.38x
Excluding realized investment gains		19.15x		0.97x		8.39x		6.80x		14.37x