XML 55 R44.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.24.0.1

Investment and derivative contract gains (losses) (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2023
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract] |
Summary of investment and derivative gains and losses | Investment and derivative contract gains (losses) for each of the three years ending December 31, 2023 are summarized as follows (in millions).
|  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |  |  | 2021 |
Investment gains (losses): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) during the year on securities held at the end of the year |  | $ | 69,144 |  |  | $ | (63,120 | ) |  | $ | 76,375 |
Investment gains (losses) during the year on securities sold |  |  | 2,698 |  |  |  | (3,927 | ) |  |  | 997 |
|  |  | 71,842 |  |  |  | (67,047 | ) |  |  | 77,372 |
Fixed maturity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross realized gains |  |  | 139 |  |  |  | 134 |  |  |  | 85 |
Gross realized losses |  |  | (86 | ) |  |  | (684 | ) |  |  | (29 | )
Other |  |  | 2,960 |  |  |  | (26 | ) |  |  | 148 |
Investment gains (losses) |  |  | 74,855 |  |  |  | (67,623 | ) |  |  | 77,576 |
Derivative contract gains (losses) |  |  | — |  |  |  | (276 | ) |  |  | 966 |
|  | $ | 74,855 |  |  | $ | (67,899 | ) |  | $ | 78,542 |

X
- Definition Summary of investment and derivative gains and losses. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | brka_SummaryOfInvestmentAndDerivativeGainsAndLossesTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | brka_
Data Type: | dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentsDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration