Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Revenues:
Leasing revenues		$ 1,887	$ 1,447	$ 3,559	$ 2,771
Total revenues		76,180	69,114	146,990	133,713
Investment and derivative contract gains (losses)		(66,919)	27,394	(68,897)	33,094
Costs and expenses:
Total costs and expenses		64,974	60,934	127,370	116,956
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity method earnings		(55,713)	35,574	(49,277)	49,851
Equity method earnings		231	147	607	398
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		(55,482)	35,721	(48,670)	50,249
Income tax expense (benefit)		(12,106)	7,296	(10,879)	9,984
Net earnings (loss)		(43,376)	28,425	(37,791)	40,265
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		379	331	504	460
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ (43,755)	$ 28,094	$ (38,295)	$ 39,805
Equivalent Class A [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent		$ (29,754)	$ 18,488	$ (26,005)	$ 26,078
Average equivalent shares outstanding		1,470,577	1,519,576	1,472,628	1,526,392
Equivalent Class B [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent	[1]	$ (19.84)	$ 12.33	$ (17.34)	$ 17.39
Average equivalent shares outstanding		2,205,865,262	2,279,363,382	2,208,942,539	2,289,587,640
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 18,087	$ 17,163	$ 35,579	$ 33,587
Sales and service revenues		40,220	36,743	78,082	70,441
Leasing revenues		1,887	1,447	3,559	2,771
Interest, dividend and other investment income		2,861	1,898	4,723	3,749
Total revenues		63,055	57,251	121,943	110,548
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		13,620	12,175	26,952	23,139
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		1,282	1,459	2,605	2,939
Insurance underwriting expenses		2,461	3,065	5,228	6,079
Cost of sales and services		31,633	28,761	61,418	55,291
Cost of leasing		1,498	982	2,730	1,864
Selling, general and administrative expenses		3,762	5,045	8,013	8,955
Interest expense		302	298	566	574
Total costs and expenses		54,558	51,785	107,512	98,841
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Freight rail transportation revenues		6,612	5,778	12,556	11,156
Energy operating revenues		4,935	4,302	9,753	9,150
Service revenues and other income		1,578	1,783	2,738	2,859
Total revenues		13,125	11,863	25,047	23,165
Costs and expenses:
Freight rail transportation expenses		4,260	3,588	8,185	7,098
Utilities and energy cost of sales and other expenses		3,844	3,220	7,435	6,809
Other expenses		1,527	1,563	2,683	2,656
Interest expense		785	778	1,555	1,552
Total costs and expenses		$ 10,416	$ 9,149	$ 19,858	$ 18,115

[1] Class B shares are economically equivalent to one-fifteen-hundredth of a Class A share. Accordingly, net earnings (loss) per average equivalent Class B share outstanding is equal to one-fifteen-hundredth of the equivalent Class A amount. See Note 17.