<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2020 Workiva-->
<!--r:509e0190-b727-4278-b469-b6fb468dfb12,g:a9a50fba-ba22-47c7-ac4b-14a4ac96c0db-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.gilead.com/role/CoverCover" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="gild-20200730.xsd#CoverCover"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://www.gilead.com/role/CoverCover" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_018681ea-f6f8-4e54-ae20-a1562e530614" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_018681ea-f6f8-4e54-ae20-a1562e530614" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_6762687b-ad19-44ae-abc3-0a9fefe02527" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_6762687b-ad19-44ae-abc3-0a9fefe02527" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_098123e8-de3e-470e-b000-fea099cf0caf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_098123e8-de3e-470e-b000-fea099cf0caf" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_c9e3381d-ae55-483f-8641-5ace7aa17552" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_c9e3381d-ae55-483f-8641-5ace7aa17552" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_49edb3be-19ab-4ce5-8c1c-e9c747e57ad0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_49edb3be-19ab-4ce5-8c1c-e9c747e57ad0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_8ae2b850-6ca7-4fdc-baf1-9812b8ffa3c8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_8ae2b850-6ca7-4fdc-baf1-9812b8ffa3c8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_9ff24d46-734c-4bfc-8dd4-fd71af3086fb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_9ff24d46-734c-4bfc-8dd4-fd71af3086fb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_44de98b5-85fb-45b8-8038-3ca65d130388" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_44de98b5-85fb-45b8-8038-3ca65d130388" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_e3f5738c-9238-49b5-938b-da4b1413bf77" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_e3f5738c-9238-49b5-938b-da4b1413bf77" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_b7a699ab-3c60-42a3-9507-696a7d7bd423" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_b7a699ab-3c60-42a3-9507-696a7d7bd423" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_239f370a-e6ce-4882-a8d8-88a1aca9c92b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_239f370a-e6ce-4882-a8d8-88a1aca9c92b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_f73455ca-308f-4fac-90f0-076fd175c80c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_f73455ca-308f-4fac-90f0-076fd175c80c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_39ac5683-2d3a-4cff-9685-61358f15e8e0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_39ac5683-2d3a-4cff-9685-61358f15e8e0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_47764fc3-bee2-4943-8f30-fdb0bd1a64f9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_47764fc3-bee2-4943-8f30-fdb0bd1a64f9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_b915c82a-d4e6-4a5d-93db-2ec501440ff6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_b915c82a-d4e6-4a5d-93db-2ec501440ff6" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_1ff58f7b-5920-4e9b-97af-c7620418bde0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_1ff58f7b-5920-4e9b-97af-c7620418bde0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_be497f3a-7dc7-43a3-9703-c4557f8e9e63" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_be497f3a-7dc7-43a3-9703-c4557f8e9e63" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_41b5e536-203b-4f1a-acb4-f37525946ed8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_41b5e536-203b-4f1a-acb4-f37525946ed8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_3566aadd-d634-4f8d-8d39-562d3ce2e725" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_3566aadd-d634-4f8d-8d39-562d3ce2e725" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_08f14500-0b09-4b37-b4b6-693113b54bc8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_08f14500-0b09-4b37-b4b6-693113b54bc8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_52cd6075-bc36-499c-8c4d-a49bd3573791" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="21" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_52cd6075-bc36-499c-8c4d-a49bd3573791" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_17059380-6f7f-4014-94ee-5d4efde423cb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="22" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_08719882-1b87-4e2e-a0f9-2d50901d3541" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_17059380-6f7f-4014-94ee-5d4efde423cb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
