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Business segment data - Revenues (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | $ 364,482 | $ 302,020 | $ 276,185
BNSF [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 23,791 | 25,802 | 23,177
Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 25,960 | 26,347 | 25,052
PTC [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 51,664 |  |
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 75,283 | 75,650 | 68,577
McLane [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 51,814 | 53,209 | 49,450
Service and Retailing [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 39,879 | 38,209 | 34,747
Operating Businesses [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 364,653 | 301,884 | 276,512
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Premiums earned | 83,403 | 74,576 | 69,460
Interest, dividend and other investment income | 11,619 | 7,734 | 5,662
Total revenues | 95,022 | 82,310 | 75,122
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Premiums earned | 39,264 | 38,984 | 37,706
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Premiums earned | 17,129 | 13,746 | 11,575
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Premiums earned | 27,010 | 21,846 | 20,179
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 23,876 | 25,888 | 23,282
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 26,008 | 26,393 | 25,096
Operating Businesses [Member] | PTC [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 51,739 |  |
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 75,405 | 75,781 | 68,730
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 52,607 | 53,209 | 49,450
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | 39,996 | 38,303 | 34,832
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Total revenues | $ (171) | $ 136 | $ (327)

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