EXHIBIT 12

                             Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
      Statement Regarding Calculation of Ratio of Consolidated Earnings to
                           Consolidated Fixed Charges
                              (Dollars in millions)



                                                                      Six
                                                                  Months Ended                Years Ended December 31,
                                                                  -------------    ------------------------------------------------
                                                                  June 30, 2004     2003     2002       2001       2000       1999
                                                                  -------------    ------   -------    -------    -------    ------
                                                                                                           
Net earnings                                                         $ 2,832      $ 8,151   $ 4,286    $   795    $ 3,328    $1,557
  Income tax expense                                                   1,350        3,805     2,059        590      1,997       852
  Minority interests in earnings                                          32           64        14         53        241        41
  Equity in earnings of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company             (209)        (429)     (359)      (134)       (85)        -
  Fixed charges *                                                        553          614       840      1,069        986       773
                                                                     -------      -------   -------    -------    -------    ------
Earnings available for fixed charges                                 $ 4,558      $12,205   $ 6,840    $ 2,373    $ 6,467    $3,223
                                                                     =======      =======   =======    =======    =======    ======

Investment gains, pre-tax, included in
  earnings available for fixed charges                               $   385      $ 4,129   $   918    $ 1,488    $ 4,499    $1,247
                                                                     =======      =======   =======    =======    =======    ======

Fixed charges *

  Interest on indebtedness (including amortization
    of debt discount and expense)                                    $   478      $   472   $   725    $   968    $   916    $  715
  Rentals representing interest                                           75          142       115        101         70        58
                                                                     -------      -------   -------    -------    -------    ------
                                                                     $   553      $   614   $   840    $ 1,069    $   986    $  773
                                                                     =======      =======   =======    =======    =======    ======


Ratio of earnings to fixed charges *                                    8.24x       19.88x     8.14x      2.22x      6.56x     4.17x
                                                                     =======      =======   =======    =======    =======    ======
Ratio of earnings, excluding investment
  gains, to fixed charges *                                             7.55x       13.15x     7.05x      0.83x      2.00x     2.56x
                                                                     =======      =======   =======    =======    =======    ======


- -------------

* Includes fixed charges of finance businesses. Fixed charges of finance
businesses were as follows:



                                                                  Six
                                                              Months Ended                   Years Ended December 31,
                                                              -------------       -------------------------------------------------
                                                              June 30, 2004        2003      2002       2001       2000       1999
                                                              -------------       ------    -------    -------    -------    ------
                                                                                                           
                                                                 $   418          $  337    $   551    $   775    $   786    $  586


Excluding fixed charges of finance businesses the ratios of earnings to fixed
charges were as follows:



                                                                  Six
                                                              Months Ended                    Years Ended December 31,
                                                              -------------       -------------------------------------------------
                                                              June 30, 2004        2003      2002       2001       2000       1999
                                                              -------------       ------    -------    -------    -------    ------
                                                                                                           
Including investment gains                                      30.67x            42.84x    21.76x      5.44x      28.41x    14.10x
Excluding investment gains                                      27.81x            27.94x    18.58x      0.37x       5.91x     7.43x