XML 91 R80.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.24.0.1

Investment and derivative contract gains (losses) - Narrative (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Jan. 31, 2023
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Sales of equity securities | $ 40,631 | $ 33,664 | $ 15,849 |
Taxable gains (losses) on sales of equity securities | $ 5,000 | $ 769 | $ 3,600 |
Pilot Travel Centers LLC [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Equity interest ownership percentage | 38.60% |  |  | 38.60%
Other Investment gains from remeasurement | $ 3,000 |  |  |

X
- Definition Taxable gains (loss) on sales of equity securities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | brka_TaxableGainsLossOnSalesOfEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix: | brka_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of equity in the acquiree held by the acquirer immediately before the acquisition date in a business combination. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationStepAcquisitionEquityInterestInAcquireePercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition In a business combination achieved in stages, this element represents the amount of net gain (loss) recognized by the entity as a result of remeasuring to fair value the equity interest in the acquiree it held before the business combination. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (g)(2) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479328/805-10-50-2 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationStepAcquisitionEquityInterestInAcquireeRemeasurementGainOrLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 4E -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4E + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of cash inflow from sale of investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI), classified as investing activity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 45 -Paragraph 19 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-19 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -SubTopic 10 -Topic 321 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479567/321-10-45-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfEquitySecuritiesFvNi
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=brka_PilotTravelCentersLLCMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |