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Business segment data - Revenues by segment (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues $ 65,187 $ 52,163
Operating Businesses [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 64,483 51,130
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Interest, dividend and other investment income 1,132 1,149
Revenues 22,885 12,273
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Premiums earned 6,845 6,050
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | General Re [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Premiums earned 1,391 1,390
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | BHRG [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Premiums earned 11,841 2,243
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | BH Primary [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Premiums earned 1,676 1,441
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 5,185 4,767
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 4,257 4,118
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 12,097 10,554
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 12,101 11,801
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 6,093 5,891
Operating Businesses [Member] | Finance and Financial Products Reportable Segment [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues 1,865 1,726
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Investment and derivative gains/losses 775 1,040
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenues $ (71) $ (7)