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Goodwill and other intangible assets - Intangible assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Mar. 31, 2024 | Dec. 31, 2023
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Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | $ 43,993 | $ 43,988
Accumulated amortization | 14,948 | 14,661
Net carrying value | 29,045 | 29,327
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 8,866 | 8,858
Accumulated amortization | 1,162 | 1,045
Net carrying value | 7,704 | 7,813
Customer relationships [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 28,287 | 28,305
Accumulated amortization | 8,051 | 7,901
Net carrying value | 20,236 | 20,404
Trademarks and trade names [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 5,624 | 5,619
Accumulated amortization | 850 | 846
Net carrying value | 4,774 | 4,773
Trademarks and trade names [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 3,592 | 3,592
Accumulated amortization | 126 | 98
Net carrying value | 3,466 | 3,494
Customer relationships and contracts [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 4,092 | 4,092
Accumulated amortization | 855 | 791
Net carrying value | 3,237 | 3,301
Other intangible assets [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 4,803 | 4,826
Accumulated amortization | 1,851 | 1,805
Net carrying value | 2,952 | 3,021
Other intangible assets [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 1,182 | 1,174
Accumulated amortization | 181 | 156
Net carrying value | 1,001 | 1,018
Patents and technology [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 5,279 | 5,238
Accumulated amortization | 4,196 | 4,109
Net carrying value | $ 1,083 | $ 1,129

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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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