Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions |
3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2023 |
Sep. 30, 2022 |
Sep. 30, 2023 |
Sep. 30, 2022 |
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| Revenues: | |||||||
| Leasing revenues | $ 2,104 | $ 1,959 | $ 6,227 | $ 5,518 | |||
| Total revenues | 93,210 | 76,904 | 271,106 | 223,948 | | ||
| Investment and derivative contract gains (losses) | (29,778) | (13,465) | 38,041 | (82,362) | |||
| Costs and expenses: | |||||||
| Total costs and expenses | 80,653 | 68,112 | 237,380 | 195,153 | | ||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity method earnings | (17,221) | (4,673) | 71,767 | (53,567) | | ||
| Equity method earnings | 262 | 415 | 1,461 | 958 | | ||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes | (16,959) | (4,258) | 73,228 | (52,609) | | ||
| Total Other Income Expenses | -16697.0 | -3843.0 | 74689.0 | -51651.0 | 0 | |
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| Income tax expense (benefit) | (4,392) | (1,560) | 13,839 | (12,374) | | | |
| Net earnings (loss) | (12,567) | (2,698) | 59,389 | (40,235) | | ||
| Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests | 200 | 100 | 740 | 604 | |||
| Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders | $ (12,767) | $ (2,798) | $ 58,649 | $ (40,839) | |||
| Equivalent Class A [Member] | |||||||
| Earnings per share: | |||||||
| Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent | $ (8,824) | $ (1,907) | $ 40,422 | $ (27,768) | |||
| Average equivalent shares outstanding | 1,446,925 | 1,466,946 | 1,450,934 | 1,470,714 | |||
| Equivalent Class B [Member] | |||||||
| Earnings per share: | |||||||
| Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent | [1] | $ (5.88) | $ (1.27) | $ 26.95 | $ (18.51) | ||
| Average equivalent shares outstanding | 2,170,387,690 | 2,200,419,462 | 2,176,400,554 | 2,206,070,294 | |||
| Insurance and Other [Member] | |||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||
| Insurance premiums earned | $ 21,360 | $ 18,754 | $ 61,717 | $ 54,323 | |||
| Sales and service revenues | 39,456 | 39,597 | 116,970 | 117,679 | |||
| Leasing revenues | 2,104 | 1,959 | 6,227 | 5,518 | |||
| Interest, dividend and other investment income | 4,047 | 2,378 | 11,122 | 7,101 | |||
| Total revenues | 66,967 | 62,688 | 196,036 | 184,621 | |||
| Costs and expenses: | |||||||
| Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses | 13,719 | 16,005 | 42,029 | 42,957 | |||
| Life, annuity and health insurance benefits | 1,144 | 1,428 | 3,057 | 3,951 | |||
| Insurance underwriting expenses | 3,496 | 2,613 | 10,812 | 7,594 | |||
| Cost of sales and services | 31,049 | 31,292 | 91,989 | 92,710 | |||
| Cost of leasing | 1,489 | 1,418 | 4,423 | 4,148 | |||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 5,120 | 4,068 | 15,727 | 12,081 | |||
| Interest expense | 311 | 297 | 953 | 863 | |||
| Total costs and expenses | 56,328 | 57,121 | 168,990 | 164,304 | |||
| Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | |||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||
| Freight rail transportation revenues | 5,828 | 6,663 | 17,637 | 19,219 | |||
| Utility and energy operating revenues | 19,033 | 6,090 | 53,543 | 15,843 | |||
| Service revenues and other income | 1,382 | 1,463 | 3,890 | 4,265 | |||
| Total revenues | 26,243 | 14,216 | 75,070 | 39,327 | |||
| Costs and expenses: | |||||||
| Freight rail transportation expenses | 4,038 | 4,581 | 12,213 | 12,766 | |||
| Utilities and energy cost of sales and other expenses | 18,249 | 4,295 | 50,254 | 11,730 | |||
| Other expenses | 1,089 | 1,320 | 3,149 | 4,003 | |||
| Interest expense | 949 | 795 | 2,774 | 2,350 | |||
| Total costs and expenses | $ 24,325 | $ 10,991 | $ 68,390 | $ 30,849 | |||
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- Definition Costs related to leasing operations. No definition available.
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- Definition Costs incurred in providing energy services and other operating expenses. No definition available.
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- Definition Freight rail transportation revenues. No definition available.
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- Definition Expense incurred for underwriting activities related to insurance policies, including the amortization of deferred premium acquisition costs. No definition available.
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- Definition Amount including accretion (amortization) of purchase discount (premium) of interest income and dividend income on securities and investments. No definition available.
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- Definition Sales and service revenue. No definition available.
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- Definition Aggregate amount of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised service to customer and other income. No definition available.
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- Definition Utility and energy operating revenues. No definition available.
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- Definition The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition Total costs of sales and operating expenses for the period. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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- Definition The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations, including income (loss) from equity method investments, before deduction of income tax expense (benefit), and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before deduction of income tax expense (benefit) and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, and addition of income (loss) from equity method investments. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition Amount of income (loss) for proportionate share of equity method investee's income (loss). Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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- Definition Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
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- Definition Amount, after effects of reinsurance, of expense (reversal of expense) for claims incurred and costs incurred in the claim settlement process. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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- Definition The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition The aggregate amount of gains or losses resulting from nonoperating activities (for example, interest and dividend revenue, property, plant and equipment impairment loss, and so forth). Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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- Definition Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Includes selling, general and administrative expense. No definition available.
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- Definition Amount of operating lease income from lease payments and variable lease payments paid and payable to lessor. Includes, but is not limited to, variable lease payments not included in measurement of lease receivable. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition Amount of expense classified as other. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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- Definition Amount, after effect of policies assumed or ceded, of expense related to provision for policy benefits and costs incurred for life and annuity insurance contracts. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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- Definition Amount, after premiums ceded to other entities and premiums assumed by the entity, of premiums earned. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- References No definition available.
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- Definition The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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- Definition Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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