Segments of Business and Geographic Areas - Operating Profit by Segment of Business (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Apr. 01, 2018	Apr. 02, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss	(1.70%)
Restructuring charges	$ 42	$ 85
Medical Devices
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	100	200
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income	$ 5,793	5,822
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss	(0.50%)
Operating Segments \| CONSUMER
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income	$ 548	596
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss	(8.10%)
Amortization	$ 100	100
Operating Segments \| PHARMACEUTICAL
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income	$ 3,666	3,663
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss	0.10%
Amortization	$ 800	100
Gain on sale of equity investments		200
Operating Segments \| Medical Devices
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income	$ 1,579	1,563
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss	1.00%
Amortization	$ 300	200
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income	312	$ 247
Actelion
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs	100
Actelion \| PHARMACEUTICAL
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs	$ 100

Percentage change in operating income loss.

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of recurring noncash expense charged against earnings in the period to allocate the cost of assets over their estimated remaining economic lives.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
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- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

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The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of equity securities, not separately or otherwise categorized as trading or available-for-sale. This element includes investments in which the entity holds a small ownership stake (generally, less than 20% of the shares outstanding) and cannot exert significant influence.

+ References

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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- Definition

Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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