XML 97 R48.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangible assets | $ 846 | $ 846 |
Weighted-average life of the intangible assets | 12 years |  |
Amortization of intangibles | $ 122 | 122 | $ 98
Intellectual Property |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items] |  |  |
Carrying value of trade name and licenses | 380 | 380 |
Tradenames |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items] |  |  |
Carrying value of trade name and licenses | $ 90 | 90 |
Maximum |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted-average life of the intangible assets | 21 years |  |
Market Intelligence |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization of intangibles | $ 75 | 73 | 71
Market Intelligence | Tradenames |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items] |  |  |
Carrying value of trade name and licenses | 185 | 185 |
Indices |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization of intangibles | 6 | 6 | $ 6
Indices | Intellectual Property |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items] |  |  |
Carrying value of trade name and licenses | 132 | 132 |
Indices | Goldman Sachs Commodity and Broad Market Intellectual Property |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items] |  |  |
Carrying value of trade name and licenses | $ 59 | $ 59 |

X
- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition 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. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount after accumulated amortization of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangible assets classified as other. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_IntellectualPropertyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=spgi_MarketIntelligenceSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=spgi_IndicesSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=spgi_GoldmanSachsCommodityandBroadMarketIntellectualPropertyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |