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Business segment data - Earnings (loss) before income taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Investment and derivative gains (losses) | $ 74,855 | $ (67,899) | $ 78,542
Interest expense, not allocated to segments | (5,003) | (4,352) | (4,172)
Non-controlled businesses | 1,973 | 1,863 | 886
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | 120,166 | (30,500) | 111,861
Operating Businesses [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 43,637 | 34,775 | 32,466
Interest expense, not allocated to segments | (4,630) | (3,946) | (3,828)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 18,494 | 7,702 | 6,760
Investment income | 11,581 | 7,724 | 5,649
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 3,635 | (1,880) | 1,259
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 1,904 | 1,465 | (755)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 1,374 | 393 | 607
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Insurance Underwriting [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 6,913 | (22) | 1,111
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 6,614 | 7,708 | 7,861
Interest expense, not allocated to segments | (1,048) | (1,025) | (1,032)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 940 | 3,146 | 3,293
Interest expense, not allocated to segments | (2,283) | (2,140) | (2,054)
Operating Businesses [Member] | PTC [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 968 |  |
Interest expense, not allocated to segments | (414) |  |
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 11,445 | 11,177 | 9,841
Interest expense, not allocated to segments | (784) | (739) | (704)
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 455 | 271 | 230
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 4,721 | 4,771 | 4,481
Interest expense, not allocated to segments | (101) | (42) | (38)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Investment and derivative gains (losses) | 74,855 | (67,899) | 78,542
Interest expense, not allocated to segments | (426) | (420) | (455)
Non-controlled businesses | 1,973 | 1,863 | 886
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses | 127 | 1,181 | 422
Interest expense, not allocated to segments | $ 53 | $ 14 | $ 111

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