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Goodwill and other intangible assets - Intangible assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022
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Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | $ 43,988 | $ 42,461
Accumulated amortization | 14,661 | 13,274
Net carrying value | 29,327 | 29,187
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 8,858 | 1,914
Accumulated amortization | 1,045 | 622
Net carrying value | 7,813 | 1,292
Trademarks and trade names [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 5,619 | 5,603
Accumulated amortization | 846 | 822
Net carrying value | 4,773 | 4,781
Trademarks and trade names [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 3,592 | 217
Accumulated amortization | 98 | 39
Net carrying value | 3,494 | 178
Customer relationships [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 28,305 | 27,765
Accumulated amortization | 7,901 | 7,174
Net carrying value | 20,404 | 20,591
Other intangible assets [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 4,826 | 4,150
Accumulated amortization | 1,805 | 1,530
Net carrying value | 3,021 | 2,620
Other intangible assets [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 1,174 | 190
Accumulated amortization | 156 | 42
Net carrying value | 1,018 | 148
Customer relationships and contracts [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 4,092 | 1,507
Accumulated amortization | 791 | 541
Net carrying value | 3,301 | 966
Patents and technology [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 5,238 | 4,943
Accumulated amortization | 4,109 | 3,748
Net carrying value | $ 1,129 | $ 1,195

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- Definition Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts of intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(16)) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482665/350-30-50-2 + Details
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- Definition Amount before accumulated amortization of intangible assets, excluding goodwill. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(15)) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1 + Details
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