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Taxes - Analysis of tax rate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Reconciliation of accounting profit multiplied by applicable tax rates [abstract] |  |  |
Applicable tax rate | $ 39 | $ 82 | $ 37
Effect of disallowed expenditures | (23) | (26) | (12)
Effect of share based compensation | (1) | (2) | (4)
Effect of income taxed at reduced rates | 2 | 2 | 0
Effect of tax credits and allowances | 7 | 13 | 5
Effect of adjustments to contingent consideration liabilities | 11 | 11 | (8)
Effect of option payments | (12) | (17) | (12)
Effect of liquidation of a subsidiary | 0 | 0 | (10)
Effect of tax benefits expiring in 2017 | 0 | 0 | (12)
Effect of tax rate changes | (342) | (14) | 0
Effect of changes in uncertain tax positions | 10 | (33) | (10)
Effect of other items | (2) | (4) | (4)
Effect of prior year items | (13) | 61 | 0
Effect of tax rate change on current and deferred tax assets and liabilities from US tax reform | 0 | 0 | 413
Total income tax (expense)/income | $ (324) | $ 73 | $ 383
Reconciliation of average effective tax rate and applicable tax rate [abstract] |  |  |
Applicable tax rate | 11.70% | 27.30% | 29.10%
Effect of disallowed expenditures | (6.90%) | (8.70%) | (9.40%)
Effect of share based compensation | (0.30%) | (0.70%) | (3.10%)
Effect of income taxed at reduced rates | 0.60% | 0.70% | 0.00%
Effect of tax credits and allowances | 2.10% | 4.30% | 3.90%
Effect of adjustments to contingent consideration liabilities | 3.30% | 3.70% | (6.30%)
Effect of option payments | (3.60%) | (5.70%) | (9.40%)
Effect of liquidation of a subsidiary | 0.00% | 0.00% | (7.90%)
Effect of tax benefits expiring in 2017 | 0.00% | 0.00% | (9.40%)
Effect of tax rate changes | (103.00%) | (4.70%) | 0.00%
Effect of changes in uncertain tax positions | 3.00% | (11.00%) | (7.90%)
Effect of other items | (0.60%) | (1.20%) | (3.20%)
Effect of prior year items | (3.90%) | 20.30% | 0.00%
Effect of tax rate change on current and deferred tax assets and liabilities from US tax reform | 0.00% | 0.00% | 325.20%
Effective tax rate | (97.60%) | 24.30% | 301.60%
Adjustments for current tax of prior periods | $ 13 | $ (61) |
Switzerland [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of accounting profit multiplied by applicable tax rates [abstract] |  |  |
Effect of tax rate change on current and deferred tax assets and liabilities from US tax reform | (304) |  |
United States [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of accounting profit multiplied by applicable tax rates [abstract] |  |  |
Effect of tax rate change on current and deferred tax assets and liabilities from US tax reform | $ (31) |  |

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