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Background and Basis of Presentation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 18 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Apr. 30, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Jul. 31, 2019 | May 31, 2018 | Jan. 31, 2018
ABI [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 10.10% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
JUUL [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity securities, ownership percentage | 35.00% |  |  |  |  | 35.00% |  |  |
Cronos [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 45.00% |  | 45.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
January 2018 Share Repurchase Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Planned share repurchase program |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,000,000,000.0 | $ 1,000,000,000.0
Repurchase of common stock (shares) |  |  | 2.7 | 34.0 |  |  |  |  |
Average price of repurchased shares, per share (usd per share) |  |  | $ 56.34 | $ 58.86 |  |  |  |  |
July 2019 Share Repurchase Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Planned share repurchase program |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000,000.0 |  |
Repurchase of common stock (shares) | 0.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Helix Innovations LLC [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent | 80.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  | $ 353,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Member] | July 2019 Share Repurchase Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchase amount |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000 |  |  |  |

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