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Significant business acquisitions and other transactions - Narrative (Detail) $ in Millions |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 2 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 01, 2023 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2023 USD ($) | Oct. 19, 2022 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2024 USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2024 USD ($) shares | Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) Location | Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | [1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 83,880 | $ 84,626 |  | $ 78,119
Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consideration for repurchase of common stock held by noncontrolling shareholders |  |  |  |  | $ 2,900 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of outstanding common stock repurchased |  |  |  |  | 5.85% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Alleghany Corporation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquired assets |  |  |  | $ 35,600 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business acquisition, effective date of acquisition |  |  |  | Oct. 19, 2022 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business acquisition, cash consideration |  |  |  | $ 11,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  | 24,100 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses |  |  |  | 15,100 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and investments |  |  |  | 19,700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  | $ 3,900 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pilot Travel Centers LLC [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of additional interest acquired |  |  | 41.40% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquired assets |  |  | $ 28,520 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business acquisition, cash consideration |  |  | 8,200 |  |  | $ 2,600 |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities |  |  | $ 10,794 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Economic interest |  |  | 38.60% |  |  |  |  |  |  | 38.60% |  |
Economic interest after subsequent acquisition |  |  | 80.00% |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  | $ 6,605 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
One-time, non-cash remeasurement gain recognized |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,000 |  |  |  |
Adjustments to additional paid in capital |  |  |  |  |  | $ 517 |  |  |  |  |  |
Pilot Travel Centers LLC [Member] | Canadian Provinces [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of places retail locations located | Location |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |
Cove Point LNG LP [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business acquisition, effective date of acquisition |  | Sep. 01, 2023 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business acquisition, cash consideration |  | $ 3,300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjustments to additional paid in capital |  | $ 667 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cove Point LNG LP [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Cove Point [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Economic interest |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cove Point LNG LP [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of additional interest acquired |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Economic interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25.00% |
Economic interest after subsequent acquisition |  | 75.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
BHE [Member] | Common Class B [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares exchanged | shares |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,291,631 |  |  |  |  |
Value of shares exchanged |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,045 |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] | BHE [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of outstanding common stock purchased |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.12% |  |  |  |  |
[1] | Net of accumulated goodwill impairments of $11.5 billion as of December 31, 2024, $11.1 billion as of December 31, 2023 and $11.0 billion as of December 31, 2022.

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