Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Revenues:
Leasing revenues		$ 2,079	$ 1,887	$ 4,123	$ 3,559
Total revenues		92,503	76,201	177,896	147,044
Investment and derivative contract gains (losses)		33,061	(66,919)	67,819	(68,897)
Costs and expenses:
Total costs and expenses		80,640	64,794	156,727	127,041
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity method earnings		44,924	(55,512)	88,988	(48,894)
Equity method earnings		511	204	1,199	543
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		45,435	(55,308)	90,187	(48,351)
Income tax expense (benefit)		9,236	(12,066)	18,231	(10,814)
Net earnings (loss)		36,199	(43,242)	71,956	(37,537)
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		287	379	540	504
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ 35,912	$ (43,621)	$ 71,416	$ (38,041)
Equivalent Class A [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent		$ 24,775	$ (29,663)	$ 49,152	$ (25,832)
Average equivalent shares outstanding		1,449,542	1,470,577	1,452,971	1,472,628
Equivalent Class B [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent	[1]	$ 16.52	$ (19.78)	$ 32.77	$ (17.22)
Average equivalent shares outstanding		2,174,313,670	2,205,865,262	2,179,456,816	2,208,942,539
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 20,561	$ 18,081	$ 40,357	$ 35,569
Sales and service revenues		39,126	40,220	77,514	78,082
Leasing revenues		2,079	1,887	4,123	3,559
Interest, dividend and other investment income		3,846	2,861	7,075	4,723
Total revenues		65,612	63,049	129,069	121,933
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		14,089	13,620	28,310	26,952
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		1,128	1,186	1,913	2,523
Insurance underwriting expenses		3,729	2,377	7,316	4,981
Cost of sales and services		30,621	31,633	60,940	61,418
Cost of leasing		1,457	1,498	2,934	2,730
Selling, general and administrative expenses		5,005	3,762	10,607	8,013
Interest expense		314	302	642	566
Total costs and expenses		56,343	54,378	112,662	107,183
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Freight rail transportation revenues		5,808	6,612	11,809	12,556
Utility and energy operating revenues		19,593	4,935	34,510	9,753
Service revenues and other income		1,490	1,605	2,508	2,802
Total revenues		26,891	13,152	48,827	25,111
Costs and expenses:
Freight rail transportation expenses		4,014	4,260	8,175	8,185
Utilities and energy cost of sales and other expenses		18,159	3,844	32,005	7,435
Other expenses		1,189	1,527	2,060	2,683
Interest expense		935	785	1,825	1,555
Total costs and expenses		$ 24,297	$ 10,416	$ 44,065	$ 19,858

[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 19.