Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenues:
Investment gains/losses		$ 315	$ 1,850
Total revenues		65,187	52,163
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		18,566	7,532
Total costs and expenses		59,738	45,947
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of Kraft Heinz Company		5,449	6,216
Equity in earnings of Kraft Heinz Company		239	240
Earnings before income taxes		5,688	6,456
Income tax expense		1,549	799
Net earnings		4,139	5,657
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		79	68
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ 4,060	$ 5,589
Class A [Member]
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders:
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders	[1]	$ 2,469	$ 3,401
Average equivalent Class A Shares outstanding	[1]	1,644,425	1,643,487
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 21,753	$ 11,124
Sales and service revenues		30,229	28,279
Interest, dividend and other investment income		1,162	1,151
Investment gains/losses		312	1,846
Total revenues		53,456	42,400
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		18,566	7,532
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		1,227	1,167
Insurance underwriting expenses		2,339	2,077
Cost of sales and services		24,360	22,796
Selling, general and administrative expenses		4,116	3,722
Interest expense		270	387
Total costs and expenses		50,878	37,681
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues		9,404	8,845
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses		6,754	6,319
Interest expense		693	685
Total costs and expenses		7,447	7,004
Finance and Financial Products [Member]
Revenues:
Sales and service revenues		1,514	1,392
Interest, dividend and other investment income		350	332
Investment gains/losses		3	4
Derivative gains/losses		460	(810)
Total revenues		2,327	918
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and services		867	768
Selling, general and administrative expenses		442	393
Interest expense		104	101
Total costs and expenses		$ 1,413	$ 1,262

[1] Equivalent Class B shares outstanding are 1,500 times the equivalent Class A amount. Net earnings per equivalent Class B share outstanding are one-fifteen-hundredth (1/1,500) of the equivalent Class A amount.