BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
                         PRESS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          August 14, 1997

     Earnings of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and its consolidated 
subsidiaries for the second quarter and first six months ended June 30,
1997 and 1996 are summarized below.  Amounts are stated on an after-tax
basis (dollar amounts are in millions except per share amounts):


                                 Second Quarter       First Six Months
                                1997       1996       1997       1996        
                               ------     ------     ------   --------
Earnings from operations...    $254.9     $193.7     $518.0   $  353.9
Realized investment gain...      22.9       (2.5)      44.2    1,506.0
                               ------     ------     ------   --------
Net earnings...............    $277.8     $191.2     $562.2   $1,859.9
                               ======     ======     ======   ========

Average Class A equivalent
    shares outstanding..... 1,232,246  1,203,748  1,232,246  1,198,630

Earnings per share:
Earnings from operations...     $207       $161       $420     $  295
Net earnings...............     $225       $159       $456     $1,552
                               ======     ======     ======   ========

     There are three principal reasons for the comparative increase in
operating earnings  in 1997.    First,  GEICO's  underwriting  results
continue to  be outstanding.   Over  the last  twelve months,  GEICO's
voluntary auto  policy growth  was 14.0%  led by  major gains  in both
standard and non-standard auto lines.  Second, 1997's first six months
pre-tax operating results reflect dividend income of about $64 million
($55-million on  an after-tax basis) related to Berkshire's investment
in US  Airways Cumulative  Convertible Preferred Stock, which included
$47 million  applicable to  arrearages existing  on December 31, 1996.
As of  June 30,  1997, US  Airways was  current with  respect  to  its
dividend obligations.   Finally,  1997's second  quarter and first six
months earnings   include  the results of FlightSafety which Berkshire
acquired at the end of 1996.


     The net earnings figures  for 1996  are meaningless in evaluating
the Company.  1996's first six months earnings include $1.5 billion of
after-tax realized investment gains compared to $44.2 million in 1997.
Most of  1996's realized gain arose in connection with The Walt Disney
Company's acquisition  of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc.  While the realized
gain had  a material  impact on Berkshire's 1996 reported earnings, it
had  a   very  minor   impact  on  Berkshire's  shareholders'  equity.
Berkshire records  its investments  at market  value and  most of  the
appreciation in the Capital Cities stock had been previously reflected
as a  component of  shareholders' equity  in periods  prior to  1996's
first quarter.

     Berkshire's second quarter interim report to shareholders will be
posted on the Internet on August 15, 1997 where it can be accessed via
www.berkshirehathaway.com.

     Berkshire Hathaway and its  subsidiaries engage  in a  number  of
diverse business  activities among  which the  most important  is  the
property and  casualty insurance  business conducted  on both a direct
and reinsurance  basis.   Common stock of the Company is listed on the
New York Stock Exchange, trading symbols BRK.A and BRK.B.

Contact:  Marc D. Hamburg    (402) 346-1400

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