BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 11, 1998

Earnings of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. for the years ended December 31, 1997 and
1996 are summarized below.  Amounts are stated on an after-tax basis (dollar 
amounts are in millions, except per share amounts).


                                                      1997            1996  

Earnings from operations . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $1,198.1          $883.4    
Realized investment gain . . . . . . . . . . . . .     703.5         1,605.2    
                                                  ----------        --------
Net earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $1,901.6        $2,488.6    
                                                  ==========        ========

Average Class A equivalent shares outstanding. . . 1,233,192       1,205,257    
Earnings per share:
    Earnings from operations . . . . . . . . . . .      $972            $733    
    Net earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    $1,542          $2,065    
                                                  ==========        ========

Berkshire's 1997 Annual Report to the shareholders is scheduled to be posted on
the Internet on Saturday March 14, 1998 at approximately 8:00 a.m. central time 
where it can be accessed via http://www.berkshirehathaway.com.  It will include 
much additional information about the Company's financial position and results 
of operations.  The Annual Report is scheduled to be mailed to shareholders the 
week of March 16.

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.