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Business segment data - Earnings before income taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2024 | Mar. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Investment gains (losses) | $ 1,876 | $ 34,758
Non-controlled businesses | 493 | 688
Earnings before income taxes | 15,706 | 44,752
Operating Businesses [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 12,486 | 9,540
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 6,478 | 3,587
Investment income | 3,152 | 2,385
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 1,928 | 703
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 486 | 268
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 912 | 231
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 1,519 | 1,649
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 432 | 223
Operating Businesses [Member] | Pilot [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 70 | 136
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 2,914 | 2,611
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 165 | 113
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 908 | 1,221
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Investment gains (losses) | 1,876 | 34,758
Interest expense, not allocated to segments | (96) | (114)
Non-controlled businesses | 493 | 688
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | $ 947 | $ (120)

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