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Goodwill and other intangible assets - Intangible assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 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 | $ 50,874 | $ 50,831
Accumulated amortization | 16,236 | 14,947
Net carrying value | 34,638 | 35,884
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 1,990 | 2,015
Accumulated amortization | 854 | 759
Net carrying value | 1,136 | 1,256
Trademarks and trade names [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 9,007 | 8,997
Accumulated amortization | 1,041 | 899
Net carrying value | 7,966 | 8,098
Customer relationships [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 30,941 | 30,832
Accumulated amortization | 8,840 | 8,048
Net carrying value | 22,101 | 22,784
Other intangible assets [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 5,551 | 5,764
Accumulated amortization | 1,996 | 1,891
Net carrying value | 3,555 | 3,873
Other intangible assets [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 437 | 450
Accumulated amortization | 126 | 115
Net carrying value | 311 | 335
Customer relationships and contracts [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 1,553 | 1,565
Accumulated amortization | 728 | 644
Net carrying value | 825 | 921
Patents and technology [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 5,375 | 5,238
Accumulated amortization | 4,359 | 4,109
Net carrying value | $ 1,016 | $ 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/exampleRef -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 40 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482640/350-30-55-40 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 350 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section S45 -Paragraph 1 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480265/350-10-S45-1 Reference 3: 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 Reference 4: 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 + 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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