Exhibit 12.1
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
Calculation of Ratio of Consolidated Earnings to Consolidated Fixed Charges
(Dollars in millions)
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway | $ | 10,273 | $ | 10,254 | $ | 12,967 | $ | 8,055 | $ | 4,994 | $ | 13,213 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 4,831 | 4,568 | 5,607 | 3,538 | 1,978 | 6,594 | ||||||||||||||||||
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests | 378 | 492 | 527 | 386 | 602 | 354 | ||||||||||||||||||
Earnings from equity method investments | — | — | (50 | ) | (427 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
Dividends from equity method investees | — | — | 20 | 132 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Fixed charges | 2,485 | 3,219 | 3,084 | 2,279 | 2,276 | 2,202 | ||||||||||||||||||
Earnings available for fixed charges | $ | 17,967 | $ | 18,533 | $ | 22,155 | $ | 13,963 | $ | 9,850 | $ | 22,363 | ||||||||||||
Fixed charges | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest on indebtedness (including amortization of debt discount and expense) | $ | 2,079 | $ | 2,664 | $ | 2,558 | $ | 1,992 | $ | 1,963 | $ | 1,910 | ||||||||||||
Rentals representing interest and other | 406 | 555 | 526 | 287 | 313 | 292 | ||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 2,485 | $ | 3,219 | $ | 3,084 | $ | 2,279 | $ | 2,276 | $ | 2,202 | |||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges | 7.23x | 5.76x | 7.18 x | 6.13x | 4.33x | 10.16x | ||||||||||||||||||