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Fair value measurements - Financial assets and liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Mar. 31, 2025 | Dec. 31, 2024
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Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | $ 15,035 | $ 15,364
Investments in equity securities |  | 263,735 | 271,588
Insurance and Other [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 15,035 | 15,364
Investments in equity securities |  | 263,735 | 271,588
The Kraft Heinz Company [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity method investments, fair value |  | 9,903 | 9,994
U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 4,042 | 4,459
Foreign governments [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 9,452 | 9,362
Corporate and Other [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 1,541 | 1,543
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Quoted Prices (Level 1) [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in equity securities |  | 253,939 | 261,910
Derivative contract assets | [1] | $ 31 | $ 33
Derivative Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration] |  | Other | Other
Derivative contract liabilities | [1] | $ 15 | $ 15
Derivative Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration] |  | Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities | Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Quoted Prices (Level 1) [Member] | The Kraft Heinz Company and Occidental Petroleum Corporation [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity method investments, fair value |  | $ 22,981 | $ 23,047
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Quoted Prices (Level 1) [Member] | U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 4,008 | 4,425
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Quoted Prices (Level 1) [Member] | Foreign governments [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 9,330 | 9,199
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in equity securities |  | 10 | 10
Loans and finance receivables |  | 385 | 810
Derivative contract assets | [1] | $ 138 | $ 158
Derivative Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration] |  | Other | Other
Derivative contract liabilities | [1] | $ 133 | $ 143
Derivative Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration] |  | Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities | Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Notes payable and other borrowings |  | $ 39,662 | $ 40,158
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Notes payable and other borrowings |  | 74,876 | 72,506
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 34 | 34
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Foreign governments [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 122 | 163
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 1,043 | 1,041
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in equity securities |  | 9,786 | 9,668
Loans and finance receivables |  | 27,134 | 26,769
Derivative contract assets | [1] | $ 17 | $ 10
Derivative Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration] |  | Other | Other
Derivative contract liabilities | [1] | $ 96 | $ 76
Derivative Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration] |  | Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities | Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Notes payable and other borrowings |  | $ 36 | $ 23
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 498 | 502
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in equity securities |  | 263,735 | 271,588
Loans and finance receivables |  | 28,131 | 27,798
Derivative contract assets | [1] | $ 186 | $ 201
Derivative Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration] |  | Other | Other
Derivative contract liabilities | [1] | $ 244 | $ 234
Derivative Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration] |  | Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities | Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Notes payable and other borrowings |  | $ 44,461 | $ 44,885
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Notes payable and other borrowings |  | 81,466 | 79,877
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | The Kraft Heinz Company and Occidental Petroleum Corporation [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity method investments, fair value |  | 30,688 | 30,682
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 4,042 | 4,459
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Foreign governments [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 9,452 | 9,362
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 1,541 | 1,543
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in equity securities |  | 263,735 | 271,588
Loans and finance receivables |  | 27,519 | 27,579
Derivative contract assets | [1] | $ 186 | $ 201
Derivative Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration] |  | Other | Other
Derivative contract liabilities | [1] | $ 244 | $ 234
Derivative Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration] |  | Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities | Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Notes payable and other borrowings |  | $ 39,698 | $ 40,181
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Notes payable and other borrowings |  | 74,876 | 72,506
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | The Kraft Heinz Company and Occidental Petroleum Corporation [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity method investments, fair value |  | 22,981 | 23,047
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 4,042 | 4,459
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Foreign governments [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | 9,452 | 9,362
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member] |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments in fixed maturity securities |  | $ 1,541 | $ 1,543
[1] | Assets are included in other assets, and liabilities are included in accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities.

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- Definition Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2E -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2E Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (bbb)(2)(i) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (bbb)(2) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (bbb)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 470 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 69B -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481568/470-20-55-69B Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 470 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 69C -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481568/470-20-55-69C Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 470 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1D -Subparagraph (c) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1D Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482907/825-10-50-10 + Details
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- Definition Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. 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