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Investment in AB InBev/SABMiller (AB InBev and SABMiller Business Combination) (Details) |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
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Oct. 10, 2016 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Oct. 10, 2016 £ / shares shares | Oct. 09, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash component of the partial share alternative |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,773,000,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |
Proceeds from derivative financial instruments | $ 500,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 510,000,000 | 0 | 0 |  |
Total pre-tax cash from AB InBev and derivative financial instruments | 5,300,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of AB InBev ordinary shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,578,000,000 | 0 | 0 |  |
Gain on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination |  | $ 13,660,000,000 |  | $ 48,000,000 | $ 117,000,000 | $ 40,000,000 | $ 5,000,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | 13,865,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 0 |  |
Earnings from equity investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 795,000,000 | 757,000,000 | 1,006,000,000 |  |
AB InBev [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Difference between carrying amount and underlying equity |  | $ 10,700,000,000 | $ 10,700,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 10,700,000,000 |  |  |  |
Ordinary shares owned/purchased (in shares) | shares |  | 12,341,937 | 12,341,937 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,341,937 |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage (approximately) |  | 10.20% | 10.20% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10.20% |  |  | 9.60% |
Cash component of the partial share alternative | $ 4,800,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of AB InBev ordinary shares |  |  | $ 1,600,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings from equity investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |
SABMiller Plc [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ordinary shares owned/purchased (in shares) | shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 430,000,000 |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage (approximately) |  |  |  | 27.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 27.00%
Earnings from equity investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 795,000,000 | 757,000,000 | $ 1,006,000,000 |  |
AB InBev [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
British pounds in cash for each SABMiller share, offered by AB InBev (GBP per share) | £ / shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | £ 45 |
Partial share alternative percentage available for SABMiller shares (approximately) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 41.00% |
Gain on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,900,000,000 |  |  |  |
After-tax accounting gain on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination (approximately) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,000,000,000 |  |  |  |
Expected gain on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 445,000,000 |  |  |  |
Restricted Shares [Member] | AB InBev [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restricted shares issued to Altria Group, Inc. (in shares) | shares | 185,115,417 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restricted Shares [Member] | AB InBev [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restricted shares, lock-up period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |  |  |
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AB InBev [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of investment |  | $ 20,900,000,000 | 20,900,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 20,900,000,000 |  |  |  |
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | AB InBev [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of investment |  | $ 17,900,000,000 | $ 17,900,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 17,900,000,000 |  |  |  |
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | SABMiller Plc [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of investment |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5,500,000,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 5,500,000,000 |  |  |

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