The benchmark S&P 500 stock index had a good year in 2012, but shares of Berkshire Hathaway did even better.
Berkshire's Class A shares finished a $134,060, an increase of 16.8 percent from 2011's close. That's the highest year-end finish for Berkshire and just below the 4-year intraday high of $136,345 set on October 18.
The S&P ended the year with a 13.4 percent gain, excluding dividends.