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Tax Matters - Reconciliation of Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning |  | $ (6,558) | [1] | $ (5,826) | [1] | $ (5,919)
Acquisitions | [2] | 0 |  | 10 |  | (83)
Increases based on tax positions taken during a prior period | [3] | (192) |  | (49) |  | (11)
Decreases based on tax positions taken during a prior period | [3],[4] | 561 |  | 28 |  | 409
Decreases based on settlements for a prior period | [5] | 123 |  | 35 |  | 126
Increases based on tax positions taken during the current period | [3] | (370) |  | (753) |  | (489)
Impact of foreign exchange |  | 56 |  | (121) |  | (5)
Other, net | [3],[6] | 121 |  | 118 |  | 146
Balance, ending | [1] | $ (6,259) |  | $ (6,558) |  | $ (5,826)
[1] | In 2018, included in Income taxes payable ($11 million), Current tax assets ($1 million), Noncurrent deferred tax assets and other noncurrent tax assets ($47 million), Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities ($3.2 billion) and Other taxes payable ($3.0 billion). In 2017, included in Income taxes payable ($1 million), Noncurrent deferred tax assets and other noncurrent tax assets ($123 million), Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities ($3.3 billion) and Other taxes payable ($3.2 billion).
[2] | For 2017 and 2016, primarily related to the acquisitions of Medivation and Anacor. See also Note 2A.
[3] | Primarily included in Provision/(benefit) for taxes on income.
[4] | Primarily related to effectively settling certain tax positions primarily with foreign tax authorities. See also Note 5A.
[5] | Primarily related to cash payments and reductions of tax attributes.
[6] | Primarily related to decreases as a result of a lapse of applicable statutes of limitations.

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- Definition Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increase (Decrease) Resulting from Foreign Currency Translation + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Period Increase (Decrease), Other + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of unrecognized tax benefits. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176650&loc=SL37586934-109318 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from settlements with taxing authorities. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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