Business segment data - Earnings before income taxes (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions |
12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
Dec. 31, 2017 |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Investment and derivative gains/losses |
$ (22,455)
|
$ 2,128
|
$ 8,304
|
| Interest expense |
(3,853)
|
(4,386)
|
(3,741)
|
| Equity method investments |
(2,167)
|
3,014
|
1,109
|
| Earnings before income taxes |
4,001
|
23,838
|
33,667
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
29,156
|
21,370
|
25,408
|
| Interest expense |
(3,614)
|
(4,035)
|
(3,409)
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
7,513
|
1,616
|
6,613
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
2,010
|
(3,239)
|
2,131
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Interest, Dividend and Other Investment Income [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
5,503
|
4,855
|
4,482
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
2,449
|
(310)
|
462
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
(1,109)
|
(3,648)
|
1,012
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
670
|
719
|
657
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
6,863
|
6,328
|
5,693
|
| Interest expense |
(1,041)
|
(1,016)
|
(992)
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
2,472
|
2,499
|
2,878
|
| Interest expense |
(1,777)
|
(2,254)
|
(1,715)
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
9,366
|
8,324
|
7,735
|
| Interest expense |
(690)
|
(679)
|
(631)
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
246
|
299
|
431
|
| Interest expense |
(15)
|
(19)
|
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
2,696
|
2,304
|
2,058
|
| Interest expense |
(91)
|
(67)
|
(71)
|
| Segment Reconciling Items [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Investment and derivative gains/losses |
(22,455)
|
2,128
|
8,304
|
| Interest expense |
(458)
|
(486)
|
(474)
|
| Equity method investments |
(2,167)
|
3,014
|
1,109
|
| Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member] |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses |
(75)
|
(2,188)
|
(680)
|
| Interest expense |
$ 219
|
$ 135
|
$ 142
|