v3.25.4
Business segment data - Additional tabular disclosures (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Interest expense $ 5,069 $ 5,200 $ 5,003
Income tax expense (benefit) 15,199 20,815 23,019
Depreciation and amortization 13,476 12,855 12,486
Goodwill at year-end [1] 83,074 83,880 84,626
Assets 1,222,176 1,153,881  
Business Segments [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Interest expense 5,323 4,982 4,630
Income tax expense (benefit) 8,572 8,870 6,910
Capital expenditures 20,927 18,976 19,409
Depreciation and amortization 12,796 12,208 11,667
Goodwill at year-end 83,074 83,880  
Identifiable assets at year-end 977,411 932,848  
Business Segments [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Income tax expense (benefit) 4,949 5,462 3,497
Capital expenditures 109 99 68
Depreciation and amortization 438 411 401
Goodwill at year-end 16,557 16,557  
Identifiable assets at year-end 571,145 539,884  
Business Segments [Member] | BNSF [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Interest expense 1,098 1,078 1,048
Income tax expense (benefit) 1,699 1,617 1,527
Capital expenditures 3,796 3,690 3,920
Depreciation and amortization 2,722 2,621 2,627
Goodwill at year-end 15,351 15,351  
Identifiable assets at year-end 82,532 80,813  
Business Segments [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Interest expense 2,642 2,528 2,283
Income tax expense (benefit) (1,785) (1,871) (2,022)
Capital expenditures 10,589 9,013 9,148
Depreciation and amortization 4,220 4,003 4,010
Goodwill at year-end 11,778 11,669  
Identifiable assets at year-end 136,515 128,276  
Business Segments [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Interest expense 1,211 934 784
Income tax expense (benefit) 2,529 2,598 2,487
Capital expenditures 2,681 2,779 2,714
Depreciation and amortization 2,464 2,422 2,290
Goodwill at year-end 26,928 27,716  
Identifiable assets at year-end 122,132 119,860  
Business Segments [Member] | Service and Retailing [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Interest expense 113 118 101
Income tax expense (benefit) 982 912 1,135
Capital expenditures 2,604 2,360 2,590
Depreciation and amortization 1,643 1,522 1,335
Goodwill at year-end 5,682 5,878  
Identifiable assets at year-end 39,124 37,198  
Business Segments [Member] | McLane [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Interest expense 32 22  
Income tax expense (benefit) 171 152 117
Capital expenditures 207 236 264
Depreciation and amortization 214 217 208
Goodwill at year-end 232 232  
Identifiable assets at year-end 7,135 7,165  
Business Segments [Member] | Pilot [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Interest expense 227 302 414
Income tax expense (benefit) 27   169
Capital expenditures 941 799 705
Depreciation and amortization 1,095 1,012 796
Goodwill at year-end 6,546 6,477  
Identifiable assets at year-end 18,828 19,652  
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Investment gains (losses), tax 8,316 11,179 15,930
Equity method earnings (losses), tax (2,234) 322 223
Goodwill at year-end 83,074 83,880  
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Interest expense (254) 218 373
Income tax expense (benefit) 545 444 (44)
Depreciation and amortization 680 647 $ 819
Identifiable assets at year-end $ 161,691 $ 137,153  
[1] Net of accumulated goodwill impairments of $13.0 billion as of December 31, 2025, $11.5 billion as of December 31, 2024 and $11.1 billion as of December 31, 2023.