XML 65 R57.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.25.1

Investments in fixed maturity securities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Mar. 31, 2025 | Dec. 31, 2024
--- | --- | ---
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost of fixed maturity securities | $ 14,843 | $ 15,214
Unrealized gains on fixed maturity securities | 270 | 257
Unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities | (78) | (107)
Fair value of fixed maturity securities | 15,035 | 15,364
U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies [Member] |  |
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost of fixed maturity securities | 4,025 | 4,447
Unrealized gains on fixed maturity securities | 18 | 16
Unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities | (1) | (4)
Fair value of fixed maturity securities | 4,042 | 4,459
Foreign governments [Member] |  |
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost of fixed maturity securities | 9,504 | 9,443
Unrealized gains on fixed maturity securities | 20 | 16
Unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities | (72) | (97)
Fair value of fixed maturity securities | 9,452 | 9,362
Corporate and Other [Member] |  |
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost of fixed maturity securities | 1,314 | 1,324
Unrealized gains on fixed maturity securities | 232 | 225
Unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities | (5) | (6)
Fair value of fixed maturity securities | $ 1,541 | $ 1,543

X
- Definition Amount, before tax, of unrealized gain in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, before tax, of unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amortized cost of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(1)) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478777/944-210-S99-1 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 326 -SubTopic 30 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479130/326-30-45-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 103 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482078/820-10-55-103 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 100 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482078/820-10-55-100 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/disclosureRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (aa) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481830/320-10-45-1 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(6)) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478546/942-210-S99-1 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 326 -SubTopic 30 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479130/326-30-45-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (c) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-12 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 1 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477439/946-210-55-1 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480990/946-20-50-9 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(4) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-1 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-1 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-1 Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-1 Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(2) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-1 Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (g)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (g)(2) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6 Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 220 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478297/946-220-50-3 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentHoldingsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=brka_CorporateAndOtherSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |