Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,859	$ 1,250
Adjustments:
Provision for transaction and loan losses	413	372
Depreciation and amortization	882	667
Stock-based compensation	360	346
(Gain) loss on divested businesses	(118)	256
Gain on acquisition of a business	0	(73)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisition effects	(943)	(527)
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,453	2,291
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment, net	(961)	(672)
Changes in principal loans receivable, net	(335)	(254)
Purchases of investments	(1,470)	(1,884)
Maturities and sales of investments	938	1,298
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(143)	(3,155)
Proceeds from divested business, net of cash disposed	144	0
Other	(77)	(102)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,904)	(4,769)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	359	188
Repurchases of common stock	(642)	(814)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	95	65
Tax witholdings related to net share settlements of restricted stock awards and units	(152)	(130)
Net (repayments) and borrowings under commercial paper program	(550)	700
Proceeds from the issuance of debt, net of issuance costs	2,976	0
Repayment of acquired debt	0	(199)
Funds receivable and customer accounts	(839)	(696)
Funds payable and amounts due to customers	839	696
Other	(4)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	2,082	(190)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	9	90
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,640	(2,578)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,691	5,577
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	7,331	2,999
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	15	14
Cash paid for income taxes	757	282
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Common stock options assumed pursuant to acquisition	0	25
Note receivable from divested business	$ 0	$ 287