XML 91 R83.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.25.1

Goodwill and other intangible assets - Intangible assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Mar. 31, 2025 | Dec. 31, 2024
--- | --- | ---
Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | $ 50,917 | $ 50,874
Accumulated amortization | 16,586 | 16,236
Net carrying value | 34,331 | 34,638
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 1,977 | 1,990
Accumulated amortization | 867 | 854
Net carrying value | 1,110 | 1,136
Customer relationships [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 30,896 | 30,941
Accumulated amortization | 8,990 | 8,840
Net carrying value | 21,906 | 22,101
Trademarks and trade names [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 9,017 | 9,007
Accumulated amortization | 1,075 | 1,041
Net carrying value | 7,942 | 7,966
Customer relationships and contracts [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 1,541 | 1,553
Accumulated amortization | 738 | 728
Net carrying value | 803 | 825
Other intangible assets [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 5,571 | 5,551
Accumulated amortization | 2,071 | 1,996
Net carrying value | 3,500 | 3,555
Other intangible assets [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 436 | 437
Accumulated amortization | 129 | 126
Net carrying value | 307 | 311
Patents and technology [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Gross carrying amount | 5,433 | 5,375
Accumulated amortization | 4,450 | 4,359
Net carrying value | $ 983 | $ 1,016

X
- Definition Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | brka_FiniteLivedAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | brka_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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
Name: | brka_IntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | brka_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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
Name: | us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=brka_InsuranceAndOtherMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=brka_RailroadUtilitiesAndEnergyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | brka_FiniteLivedAndAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | brka_FiniteLivedAndAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TrademarksAndTradeNamesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | brka_FiniteLivedAndAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=brka_CustomerRelationshipsAndContractsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | brka_FiniteLivedAndAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=brka_PatentsAndTechnologyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |