XML 71 R63.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.24.2.u1

Investments in equity securities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Jun. 30, 2024 | [1] | Dec. 31, 2023 | [2]
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Cost Basis | $ 88,453 | $ 109,416
Net Unrealized Gains | 196,418 | 244,426
Fair Value | 284,871 | 353,842
Banks, insurance and finance [Member] |  |
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Cost Basis | 28,585 | 27,136
Net Unrealized Gains | 66,341 | 51,176
Fair Value | 94,926 | 78,312
Consumer products [Member] |  |
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Cost Basis | 14,862 | 34,248
Net Unrealized Gains | 98,407 | 166,895
Fair Value | 113,269 | 201,143
Commercial, industrial and other [Member] |  |
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Cost Basis | 45,006 | 48,032
Net Unrealized Gains | 31,670 | 26,355
Fair Value | $ 76,676 | $ 74,387
[1] | Approximately 72% of the aggregate fair value was concentrated in five companies (American Express Company – $35.1 billion; Apple Inc. – $84.2 billion; Bank of America Corporation – $41.1 billion; The Coca-Cola Company – $25.5 billion and Chevron Corporation – $18.6 billion).
[2] | Approximately 79% of the aggregate fair value was concentrated in five companies (American Express Company – $28.4 billion; Apple Inc. – $174.3 billion; Bank of America Corporation – $34.8 billion; The Coca-Cola Company – $23.6 billion and Chevron Corporation – $18.8 billion).

X
- Definition Amount of accumulated unrealized gain (loss) on investments in equity securities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | brka_EquitySecuritiesAccumulatedUnrealizedGainLoss
Namespace Prefix: | brka_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI), classified as current. + 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(2)) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (f) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483467/210-10-45-1 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 45 -Paragraph 1A -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482736/825-10-45-1A + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNi
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Cost of investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI). Excludes equity method investment and investment in equity security without readily determinable fair value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(1)) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478777/944-210-S99-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (c) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-12 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 1 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477439/946-210-55-1 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480990/946-20-50-9 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(4) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-1 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-1 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-1 Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-1 Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(2) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-1 Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (g)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (g)(2) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 220 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478297/946-220-50-3 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentHoldingsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesByIndustryAxis=brka_BanksInsuranceAndFinanceMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesByIndustryAxis=brka_ConsumerProductsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesByIndustryAxis=brka_CommercialIndustrialAndOtherMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |