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Background and Basis of Presentation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 18 Months Ended | 31 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Jan. 31, 2018 | Jul. 31, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Jan. 01, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | May 31, 2018 | Jul. 31, 2017 | Oct. 31, 2016 | Jul. 31, 2015
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common stock (shares) | 3.7 | 7.6 | 6.4 | 15.6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Average price of repurchased shares, per share (usd per share) | $ 52.93 | $ 57.65 | $ 54.36 | $ 61.07 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease, liability |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 179,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease, right-of-use asset |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 179,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative effect |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |
ABI [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 10.10% |  | 10.10% |  | 10.10% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
JUUL [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity securities Fv Ni, ownership percentage | 35.00% |  | 35.00% |  | 35.00% |  |  |  |  | 35.00% |  |  |  |
Equity securities Fv-Ni, purchase price |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 12,800,000,000 |  |  |  |
Cronos Group Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 45.00% |  | 45.00% |  | 45.00% |  |  | 45.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
July 2015 Share Repurchase Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Planned share repurchase program |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,000,000,000.0 | $ 3,000,000,000.0 | $ 1,000,000,000.0
Repurchase of common stock (shares) |  |  |  |  |  | 58.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Average price of repurchased shares, per share (usd per share) |  |  |  |  |  | $ 68.15 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
January 2018 Share Repurchase Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Planned share repurchase program |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  | $ 2,000,000,000.0 |  |  |
Repurchase of common stock (shares) |  |  |  |  | 34.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Average price of repurchased shares, per share (usd per share) |  |  |  |  | $ 58.86 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Member] | July 2019 Share Repurchase Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Planned share repurchase program |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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