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Background and Basis of Presentation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 18 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jul. 31, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Apr. 30, 2020 | Mar. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Jul. 31, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | May 31, 2018 | Jan. 31, 2018
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, dividend rate, percentage increase | 2.40% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dividends declared (usd per share) | $ 0.86 | $ 0.86 | $ 0.84 | $ 0.84 | $ 2.54 | $ 2.44 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, dividend rate, annual (in usd per share) |  | $ 3.44 |  |  | $ 3.44 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
ABI [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage |  | 10.00% |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |  | 10.10% |  |  |  |  |  |
JUUL [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity securities, ownership percentage |  | 35.00% |  |  | 35.00% |  |  | 35.00% |  | 35.00% |  |  | 35.00% |  |
Cronos [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage |  | 44.00% | 45.00% |  | 44.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  | 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) |  |  |  | 0 |  | 6,400,000 | 34,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Average price of repurchased shares, per share (usd per share) |  |  |  | $ 0 |  | $ 54.36 | $ 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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock repurchase program, rescinded authorized repurchase amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Helix Innovations LLC [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent |  | 80.00% |  | 80.00% | 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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