v2.4.0.6
Business Segment Data - Narrative (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified
|
12 Months Ended |
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
Premiums earned, property and casualty |
$ 27,039 |
$ 25,662 |
$ 25,258 |
Premiums written, life and health |
5,070 |
5,082 |
2,630 |
Premiums earned, life and health |
5,036 |
5,087 |
2,626 |
United States [Member]
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
Premiums written, life and health |
3,100 |
3,210 |
1,095 |
Percentage of property, plant and equipment, net, by geographic area |
91.00% |
|
|
Insurance and Other [Member]
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
Sales and service revenues |
72,803 |
67,225 |
62,555 |
Insurance and Other [Member] | United States [Member] | Sales and Service Revenues [Member]
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
Percentage of revenue by geographic area to reported revenue |
86.00% |
88.00% |
90.00% |
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | United States [Member]
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
Percentage of revenue by geographic area to reported revenue |
96.00% |
97.00% |
91.00% |
Swiss Reinsurance Company Limited [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member]
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
Premiums earned, property and casualty |
2,900 |
2,400 |
4,600 |
Swiss Re Life and Health America [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member] | United States [Member]
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
Premiums written, life and health |
1,500 |
2,100 |
|
Premiums earned, life and health |
1,500 |
2,100 |
|
Wal-Mart [Member] | Insurance and Other [Member]
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
Sales and service revenues |
$ 11,600 |
|
|
X |
- Definition
The percentage of net property plant and equipment attributed to a geographic area to the total net property plant and equipment.
+ References+ Details
Name: |
brka_PercentageOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetByGeographicArea |
Namespace Prefix: |
brka_ |
Data Type: |
num:percentItemType |
Balance Type: |
na |
Period Type: |
instant |
|
X |
- Definition
The percentage of revenue from external customers attributed to a geographic area to the total revenues from external customers.
+ References+ Details
Name: |
brka_PercentageOfRevenueByGeographicAreaToReportedRevenue |
Namespace Prefix: |
brka_ |
Data Type: |
num:percentItemType |
Balance Type: |
na |
Period Type: |
duration |
|
X |
- Definition
Premiums recognized as revenue in the period earned on all life and health insurance and reinsurance contracts after subtracting any amounts ceded to another insurer.
+ References+ Details
Name: |
brka_PremiumsEarnedNetLifeAndHealth |
Namespace Prefix: |
brka_ |
Data Type: |
xbrli:monetaryItemType |
Balance Type: |
credit |
Period Type: |
duration |
|
X |
- Definition
Sum of a) Premiums written for all life insurance and reinsurance contracts after subtracting any amounts ceded to another insurer, and b) Premiums written for all health insurance and reinsurance contracts after subtracting any amounts ceded to another insurer.
+ References+ Details
Name: |
brka_PremiumsWrittenNetLifeAndHealth |
Namespace Prefix: |
brka_ |
Data Type: |
xbrli:monetaryItemType |
Balance Type: |
credit |
Period Type: |
duration |
|
X |
- Definition
Premiums recognized as revenue in the period earned on all property and casualty insurance and reinsurance contracts after subtracting any amounts ceded to another insurer.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 605
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b),(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 113
-Paragraph 27
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.
Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 1
-Article 7
Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 18
-Article 12
+ Details
Name: |
us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNetPropertyAndCasualty |
Namespace Prefix: |
us-gaap_ |
Data Type: |
xbrli:monetaryItemType |
Balance Type: |
credit |
Period Type: |
duration |
|
X |
- Definition
Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 5
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688
+ Details
Name: |
us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet |
Namespace Prefix: |
us-gaap_ |
Data Type: |
xbrli:monetaryItemType |
Balance Type: |
credit |
Period Type: |
duration |
|
|