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Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of presentation	Basis of presentation and principles of consolidation The condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of PayPal and our wholly- and majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The noncontrolling interest reported was a component of equity on our condensed consolidated balance sheets and represented the equity interests not owned by PayPal and was recorded for consolidated entities we controlled and of which we owned less than 100%. Noncontrolling interest was not presented separately on our condensed consolidated statements of income as the amount was de minimis. Investments in entities where we have the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the investee are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. For such investments, our share of the investee’s results of operations is included in other income (expense), net on our condensed consolidated statements of income and our investment balance is included in long-term investments on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Investments in entities where we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee are accounted for at fair value or cost minus impairment, if any, adjusted for changes resulting from observable price changes, which are included in other income (expense), net on our condensed consolidated statements of income. Our investment balance is included in long-term investments on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We determine at the inception of each investment, and re-evaluate if certain events occur, whether an entity in which we have made an investment is considered a variable interest entity (“VIE”). If we determine an investment is a VIE, we then assess if we are the primary beneficiary, which would require consolidation. As of March 31, 2021, no VIEs qualified for consolidation as the structures of these entities do not provide us with the ability to direct activities that would significantly impact their economic performance. The carrying value of our investments that are VIEs was de minimis and included as non-marketable equity securities accounted for using the equity method of accounting in long-term investments on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Our maximum exposure to loss, which represents funded commitments and any future funding commitments, was $129 million and $105 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. These condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “2020 Form 10-K”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 5, 2021. In the opinion of management, these condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair statement of the condensed consolidated financial statements for all interim periods presented. Certain amounts for prior years have been reclassified to conform to the financial statement presentation as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Principles of consolidation	Basis of presentation and principles of consolidation The condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of PayPal and our wholly- and majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The noncontrolling interest reported was a component of equity on our condensed consolidated balance sheets and represented the equity interests not owned by PayPal and was recorded for consolidated entities we controlled and of which we owned less than 100%. Noncontrolling interest was not presented separately on our condensed consolidated statements of income as the amount was de minimis. Investments in entities where we have the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the investee are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. For such investments, our share of the investee’s results of operations is included in other income (expense), net on our condensed consolidated statements of income and our investment balance is included in long-term investments on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Investments in entities where we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee are accounted for at fair value or cost minus impairment, if any, adjusted for changes resulting from observable price changes, which are included in other income (expense), net on our condensed consolidated statements of income. Our investment balance is included in long-term investments on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We determine at the inception of each investment, and re-evaluate if certain events occur, whether an entity in which we have made an investment is considered a variable interest entity (“VIE”). If we determine an investment is a VIE, we then assess if we are the primary beneficiary, which would require consolidation. As of March 31, 2021, no VIEs qualified for consolidation as the structures of these entities do not provide us with the ability to direct activities that would significantly impact their economic performance. The carrying value of our investments that are VIEs was de minimis and included as non-marketable equity securities accounted for using the equity method of accounting in long-term investments on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Our maximum exposure to loss, which represents funded commitments and any future funding commitments, was $129 million and $105 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. These condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “2020 Form 10-K”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 5, 2021. In the opinion of management, these condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair statement of the condensed consolidated financial statements for all interim periods presented. Certain amounts for prior years have been reclassified to conform to the financial statement presentation as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications Beginning with the fourth quarter of 2020, we reclassified certain cash flows related to customer balances from cash flows from operating activities to cash flows from investing activities and cash flows from financing activities within the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These changes have no impact on our previously reported consolidated net income, financial position, net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, or total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as reported on our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The current period presentation classifies all changes in funds receivable and customer accounts and funds payable and amounts due to customers consistently on our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows as cash flows from investing activities and cash flows from financing activities, respectively, regardless of which product the cash flows relate to on our Payments Platform. The current period presentation provides a more meaningful representation of the cash flows related to the movement of customer funds due to the restrictions on and use of those funds.
Use of estimates	Use of estimates The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to provisions for transaction and credit losses, loss contingencies, income taxes, revenue recognition, and the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates may change as new events occur, and as additional information surrounding the continued impact of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic becomes available. Actual results could differ from these estimates and any such differences may be material to our financial statements.
Recent Accounting Guidance	Recent accounting guidance In 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This amended guidance provides transition relief for the accounting impact of reference rate reform. For a limited period, this guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to certain contract modifications, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by a reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. The amended guidance is effective through December 31, 2022. Our exposure to London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) is primarily limited to an insignificant portion of our available-for-sale debt securities and, accordingly, we do not expect reference rate reform to have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements. There are other new accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB that we have adopted or will adopt, as applicable. We do not believe any of these accounting pronouncements have had, or will have, a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

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