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Business segment data - Revenues (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2024 | Jun. 30, 2023 | Jun. 30, 2024 | Jun. 30, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | $ 93,653 | $ 92,503 | $ 183,522 | $ 177,896 |
BNSF [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 5,787 | 5,808 | 11,424 | 11,809 |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 6,480 | 6,350 | 12,745 | 12,789 |
Pilot [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 12,984 | 14,733 | 25,478 | 24,229 | [1]
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 19,807 | 19,074 | 38,318 | 37,339 |
McLane [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 12,271 | 12,697 | 24,571 | 25,578 |
Service and Retailing [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 9,922 | 10,109 | 19,594 | 20,011 |
Operating Businesses [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 93,571 | 92,549 | 183,356 | 177,994 |
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest, dividend and other investment income | 4,077 | 2,918 | 7,241 | 5,310 |
Total revenues | 26,030 | 23,479 | 50,668 | 45,667 |
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Premiums earned | 10,469 | 9,714 | 20,703 | 19,340 |
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Premiums earned | 4,656 | 4,233 | 9,197 | 8,194 |
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Premiums earned | 6,828 | 6,614 | 13,527 | 12,823 |
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 5,805 | 5,828 | 11,465 | 11,847 |
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 6,492 | 6,362 | 12,769 | 12,813 |
Operating Businesses [Member] | Pilot [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 12,999 | 14,754 | 25,502 | 24,262 |
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 19,840 | 19,102 | 38,369 | 37,391 |
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 12,458 | 12,883 | 24,933 | 25,942 |
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | 9,947 | 10,141 | 19,650 | 20,072 |
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues | $ 82 | $ (46) | $ 166 | $ (98) |
[1] | Revenues from Pilot are for the five months ending June 30, 2023.

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