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Business segment data - Earnings before income taxes (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] |  |  |  |
Investment gains (losses) | $ 23,857 | $ 33,061 | $ 25,733 | $ 67,819
Non-controlled businesses | 252 | 511 | 745 | 1,199
Earnings before income taxes | 38,137 | 45,435 | 53,843 | 90,187
Operating Businesses [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 13,302 | 11,444 | 25,788 | 20,984
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 6,915 | 4,525 | 13,393 | 8,112
Investment income | 4,068 | 2,912 | 7,220 | 5,297
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 1,786 | 514 | 3,714 | 1,217
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 279 | 272 | 765 | 540
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 782 | 827 | 1,694 | 1,058
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 1,622 | 1,615 | 3,141 | 3,264
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 326 | 624 | 758 | 847
Operating Businesses [Member] | Pilot [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 199 | 186 | 269 | 322
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 3,129 | 3,103 | 6,043 | 5,714
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 142 | 129 | 307 | 242
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | 969 | 1,262 | 1,877 | 2,483
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Investment gains (losses) | 23,857 | 33,061 | 25,733 | 67,819
Interest expense, not allocated to segments | (119) | (103) | (215) | (217)
Non-controlled businesses | 252 | 511 | 745 | 1,199
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | $ 845 | $ 522 | $ 1,792 | $ 402

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