v3.25.2
Business segment data - Additional tabular disclosures (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
Jun. 30, 2024
Jun. 30, 2025
Jun. 30, 2024
Dec. 31, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Interest expense $ 1,253 $ 1,230 $ 2,510 $ 2,546    
Income tax expense (benefit) 2,293 7,639 2,769 10,513    
Depreciation and amortization 3,329 3,198 6,594 6,366    
Goodwill [1] 84,251   84,251   $ 83,880 $ 84,626
Assets 1,163,968   1,163,968   1,153,881  
Business Segments [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Interest expense 1,316 1,204 2,625 2,440    
Income tax expense (benefit) 2,176 2,326 4,115 4,530    
Capital expenditures 4,858 4,535 9,139 8,928    
Depreciation and amortization 3,176 3,040 6,288 6,052    
Goodwill 84,251   84,251   83,880  
Identifiable assets 938,982   938,982   932,848  
Business Segments [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Income tax expense (benefit) 1,177 1,332 2,231 2,614    
Capital expenditures 11 14 35 49    
Depreciation and amortization 110 100 217 198    
Goodwill 16,557   16,557   16,557  
Identifiable assets 537,326   537,326   539,884  
Business Segments [Member] | BNSF [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Interest expense 270 267 542 532    
Income tax expense (benefit) 343 395 732 771    
Capital expenditures 947 1,034 1,599 1,755    
Depreciation and amortization 679 663 1,350 1,320    
Goodwill 15,351   15,351   15,351  
Identifiable assets 81,277   81,277   80,813  
Business Segments [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Interest expense 664 625 1,310 1,270    
Income tax expense (benefit) (357) (434) (779) (827)    
Capital expenditures 2,445 1,975 4,573 4,128    
Depreciation and amortization 1,064 988 2,083 1,982    
Goodwill 11,804   11,804   11,669  
Identifiable assets 132,997   132,997   128,276  
Business Segments [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Interest expense 298 195 583 393    
Income tax expense (benefit) 701 727 1,312 1,411    
Capital expenditures 603 651 1,310 1,359    
Depreciation and amortization 612 613 1,222 1,214    
Goodwill 27,951   27,951   27,716  
Identifiable assets 122,431   122,431   119,860  
Business Segments [Member] | Pilot [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Interest expense 49 83 121 177    
Income tax expense (benefit) 26 28 63 27    
Capital expenditures 254 224 458 396    
Depreciation and amortization 260 251 517 496    
Goodwill 6,478   6,478   6,477  
Identifiable assets 19,410   19,410   19,652  
Business Segments [Member] | McLane [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Interest expense 6 5 13 10    
Income tax expense (benefit) 43 34 88 76    
Capital expenditures 45 54 67 79    
Depreciation and amortization 47 49 96 99    
Goodwill 232   232   232  
Identifiable assets 7,185   7,185   7,165  
Business Segments [Member] | Service and Retailing [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Interest expense 29 29 56 58    
Income tax expense (benefit) 243 244 468 458    
Capital expenditures 553 583 1,097 1,162    
Depreciation and amortization 404 376 803 743    
Goodwill 5,878   5,878   5,878  
Identifiable assets 38,356   38,356   37,198  
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Investment gains (losses), tax 1,379 5,082 (11) 5,476    
Equity method investments, tax (1,170) 32 (1,159) 120    
Goodwill 84,251   84,251   83,880  
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Interest expense (63) 26 (115) 106    
Income tax expense (benefit) (92) 199 (176) 387    
Depreciation and amortization 153 $ 158 306 $ 314    
Identifiable assets $ 140,735   $ 140,735   $ 137,153  
[1] Net of accumulated goodwill impairments of $11.5 billion as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 and $11.1 billion as of December 31, 2023.