Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2025 |
Dec. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
| Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract] | |||
| Net earnings | $ 67,260 | $ 89,561 | $ 97,147 |
| Other comprehensive income: | |||
| Unrealized gains (losses) on investments | 141 | (82) | 477 |
| Applicable income taxes | (23) | 9 | (100) |
| Foreign currency translation | 1,479 | (1,500) | 782 |
| Applicable income taxes | 32 | (36) | (7) |
| Long-duration insurance contract discount rate changes | 210 | 807 | (237) |
| Applicable income taxes | (46) | (144) | 49 |
| Defined benefit pension plans | (800) | 1,628 | 578 |
| Applicable income taxes | 174 | (350) | (123) |
| Other, net | (21) | (162) | (101) |
| Other comprehensive income, net | 1,146 | 170 | 1,318 |
| Comprehensive income | 68,406 | 89,731 | 98,465 |
| Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 302 | 557 | 953 |
| Comprehensive income attributable to Berkshire shareholders | $ 68,104 | $ 89,174 | $ 97,512 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to noncontrolling interests. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, before tax and reclassification adjustment, of unrealized gain (loss) from (increase) decrease in liability for future policy benefit from change in discount rate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, before reclassification adjustment, of tax expense (benefit) for unrealized gain (loss) from (increase) decrease in liability for future policy benefit from change in discount rate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of tax expense (benefit), after reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss). Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, before tax, after reclassification adjustment, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income for defined benefit plan. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, after reclassification adjustment, of tax (expense) benefit for (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income of defined benefit plan. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of tax expense (benefit) of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized gain (loss) realized upon the sale of available-for-sale securities. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in other comprehensive income, after tax, from changes classified as other. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, before tax and adjustment, of unrealized holding gain (loss) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). Excludes unrealized gain (loss) on investment in debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity) from transfer to available-for-sale. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- References No definition available.
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