Segments (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | segment									1
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net transaction revenues									$ 6,828	$ 6,980	$ 6,553
Total marketing services and other revenues									1,764	1,810	1,704
Total net revenues	$ 2,322	$ 2,099	$ 2,110	$ 2,061	$ 2,323	$ 2,150	$ 2,168	$ 2,149	8,592	8,790	8,257
Total long-lived tangible assets	1,784				1,710				1,784	1,710
U.S.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net revenues									3,624	3,525	3,419
Total long-lived tangible assets	1,668				1,578				1,668	1,578
United Kingdom
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net revenues									1,403	1,464	1,290
Germany
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net revenues									1,310	1,511	1,466
Rest of world
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net revenues									2,255	2,290	2,082
International
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total long-lived tangible assets	$ 116				$ 132				116	132
Marketplace
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net transaction revenues									6,103	6,351	5,900
Total marketing services and other revenues									1,078	1,103	1,090
StubHub
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net transaction revenues									725	629	653
Classifieds
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total marketing services and other revenues									703	716	621
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total marketing services and other revenues									$ (17)	$ (9)	$ (7)