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Acquisitions, Disposals, and Related Items (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Apr. 04, 2017 | Sep. 09, 2016 | Jun. 01, 2016 | Jul. 01, 2015 | Jan. 31, 2018 | Jan. 31, 2017 | Jan. 31, 2016 | Sep. 19, 2016
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment and business acquisitions, net of cash acquired |  |  |  |  | $ 375 | $ 2,463 | $ 0 |
Goodwill |  |  |  |  | 18,242 | 17,037 | 16,695 |
Proceeds from the disposal of certain operations |  |  |  |  | 1,046 | 662 | 246 |
Purchase of available for sale securities |  |  |  |  | 0 | $ 1,901 | $ 0 |
Yihaodian |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of interests of noncontrolling interest |  |  |  | $ 760 |  |  |  |
JD.com [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of available for sale securities |  |  |  |  | $ 1,900 |  |  |
Noncash or part noncash acquisition, interest acquired |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |  |
Aggregate ownership, percent |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |
Suburbia [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from the disposal of certain operations | $ 1,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on disposition of business, including deferred portion | 700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gain on disposition of business | $ 400 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain deferral period |  |  |  |  | 20 years |  |  |
Yihaodian |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncash or part noncash divestiture, type of consideration received |  |  | Class A ordinary shares |  |  |  |  |
Available for sale securities, percent |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |  |
Noncash or part noncash divestiture, amount of consideration received |  |  | $ 1,500 |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets |  |  | $ 535 |  |  |  |  |
Jet.com [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment and business acquisitions, net of cash acquired |  | $ 2,400 |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,700
Business combination, recognized identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, intangible assets, other than goodwill |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 600
Additional compensation over five year period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 800

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- Definition Amount of intangible assets, excluding goodwill, acquired at the acquisition date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84161108&loc=d3e4845-128472 + Details
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- Definition Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets, including but not limited to property plant and equipment, intangible assets and equity in securities of subsidiaries or equity method investee. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2443-110228 + Details
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