v3.26.1
Business segment data - Additional tabular disclosures (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Jun. 30, 2025
Jun. 30, 2026
Jun. 30, 2025
Dec. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2024
Segment Reporting [Line Items]            
Interest expense $ 1,335 $ 1,253 $ 2,636 $ 2,510    
Income tax expense (benefit) 6,291 2,293 8,431 2,769    
Depreciation and amortization 3,606 3,329 7,116 6,594    
Goodwill [1] 83,173   83,173   $ 83,074 $ 83,880
Assets 1,263,071   1,263,071   1,222,176  
Business Segments [Member]            
Segment Reporting [Line Items]            
Interest expense 1,437 1,316 2,839 2,625    
Income tax expense (benefit) 2,578 2,176 4,765 4,115    
Capital expenditures 5,645 4,858 10,631 9,139    
Depreciation and amortization 3,461 3,176 6,826 6,288    
Goodwill 83,173   83,173   83,074  
Identifiable assets 1,027,353   1,027,353   977,411  
Business Segments [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]            
Segment Reporting [Line Items]            
Income tax expense (benefit) 1,074 1,177 2,246 2,231    
Capital expenditures 38 11 63 35    
Depreciation and amortization 108 110 209 217    
Goodwill 16,557   16,557   16,557  
Identifiable assets 597,919   597,919   571,145  
Business Segments [Member] | BNSF [Member]            
Segment Reporting [Line Items]            
Interest expense 276 270 553 542    
Income tax expense (benefit) 503 343 946 732    
Capital expenditures 996 947 1,740 1,599    
Depreciation and amortization 698 679 1,388 1,350    
Goodwill 15,351   15,351   15,351  
Identifiable assets 82,794   82,794   82,532  
Business Segments [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member]            
Segment Reporting [Line Items]            
Interest expense 745 664 1,445 1,310    
Income tax expense (benefit) (333) (357) (763) (779)    
Capital expenditures 2,531 2,445 4,949 4,573    
Depreciation and amortization 1,048 1,064 2,137 2,083    
Goodwill 11,630   11,630   11,778  
Identifiable assets 142,651   142,651   136,515  
Business Segments [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]            
Segment Reporting [Line Items]            
Interest expense 331 298 675 583    
Income tax expense (benefit) 925 701 1,641 1,312    
Capital expenditures 955 603 1,859 1,310    
Depreciation and amortization 868 612 1,614 1,222    
Goodwill 27,172   27,172   26,928  
Identifiable assets 136,140   136,140   122,132  
Business Segments [Member] | Service and Retailing [Member]            
Segment Reporting [Line Items]            
Interest expense 27 29 53 56    
Income tax expense (benefit) 299 243 560 468    
Capital expenditures 799 553 1,382 1,097    
Depreciation and amortization 412 404 820 803    
Goodwill 5,685   5,685   5,682  
Identifiable assets 40,705   40,705   39,124  
Business Segments [Member] | McLane [Member]            
Segment Reporting [Line Items]            
Interest expense 8 6 16 13    
Income tax expense (benefit) 45 43 79 88    
Capital expenditures 54 45 104 67    
Depreciation and amortization 48 47 98 96    
Goodwill 232   232   232  
Identifiable assets 7,429   7,429   7,135  
Business Segments [Member] | Pilot [Member]            
Segment Reporting [Line Items]            
Interest expense 50 49 97 121    
Income tax expense (benefit) 65 26 56 63    
Capital expenditures 272 254 534 458    
Depreciation and amortization 279 260 560 517    
Goodwill 6,546   6,546   6,546  
Identifiable assets 19,715   19,715   18,828  
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]            
Segment Reporting [Line Items]            
Investment gains (losses), tax 3,379 1,379 3,033 (11)    
Equity method earnings 36 (1,170) 57 (1,159)    
Goodwill 83,173   83,173   83,074  
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]            
Segment Reporting [Line Items]            
Interest expense (102) (63) (203) (115)    
Income tax expense (benefit) 298 (92) 576 (176)    
Depreciation and amortization 145 $ 153 290 $ 306    
Identifiable assets $ 152,545   $ 152,545   $ 161,691  
[1] Net of accumulated goodwill impairments of $13.0 billion as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 and $11.5 billion as of December 31, 2024.