Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 2,609	$ 3,229	$ 1,801
Adjustments:
Provision for transaction and loan losses	580	517	392
Depreciation and amortization	1,200	940	762
Stock-based compensation	488	458	381
Deferred income taxes	(35)	17	349
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(130)	(80)	(42)
Gain on sale of Skype	0	(1,664)	0
(Gain) loss on divestiture of business	(118)	257	0
Gain on acquisitions	0	(79)	0
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisition effects
Accounts receivable	(207)	(292)	(112)
Other current assets	(310)	18	(252)
Other non-current assets	(96)	(18)	74
Accounts payable	(16)	29	(9)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(164)	(202)	(95)
Deferred revenue	28	12	(3)
Income taxes payable and other tax liabilities	9	132	(500)
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,838	3,274	2,746
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment, net	(1,257)	(963)	(724)
Changes in principal loans receivable, net	(727)	(587)	(380)
Purchases of investments	(3,128)	(2,290)	(2,644)
Maturities and sales of investments	1,421	1,596	1,436
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(143)	(3,223)	(91)
Repayment of Skype note receivable	0	0	125
Proceeds from divested business, net of cash disposed	144	0	0
Proceeds from the sale of Skype	0	2,269	0
Other	(73)	(109)	(6)
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,763)	(3,307)	(2,284)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	483	242	236
Repurchases of common stock	(898)	(1,064)	(711)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	130	80	42
Tax witholdings related to net share settlements of restricted stock awards and units	(186)	(147)	(121)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net	2,976	0	1,489
Net (repayments) and borrowings under commercial paper program	(550)	250	300
Repayment of acquired debt	0	(199)	0
Funds receivable and customer accounts	(4,126)	(1,369)	(393)
Funds payable and amounts due to customers	4,126	1,369	393
Other	(4)	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	1,951	(838)	1,235
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	100	(15)	(120)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	2,126	(886)	1,577
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,691	5,577	4,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	6,817	4,691	5,577
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	15	29	0
Cash paid for income taxes	789	373	646
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Common stock options assumed pursuant to acquisition	0	32	3
Note receivable from divested business	$ 0	$ 288	$ 0