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Background and Basis of Presentation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 18 Months Ended | 31 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 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] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock increase decrease in dividend rate percentage | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dividends declared (usd per share) | $ 0.84 | $ 0.80 | $ 0.80 | $ 2.44 | $ 2.2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, dividends, per share, annualized (in usd per share) |  |  |  | $ 3.36 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common stock (shares) | 0 |  | 6,200,000 | 6,400,000 | 21,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Average price of repurchased shares, per share (usd per share) | $ 0 |  | $ 59.18 | $ 54.36 | $ 60.53 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
JUUL [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity securities, ownership percentage | 35.00% |  |  | 35.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  | 35.00% |  |  |  |
Equity securities Fv-Ni, purchase price |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 12,800,000,000 |  |  |  |
Cronos [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 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) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 58,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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) |  |  |  |  |  | 34,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Average price of repurchased shares, per share (usd per share) |  |  |  |  |  | $ 58.86 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
July 2019 Share Repurchase Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Planned share repurchase program |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock repurchased during period (in shares) |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Helix Innovations LLC [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent |  | 80.00% |  |  |  | 80.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business combination, consideration transferred |  | $ 353,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners |  | 20.00% |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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