BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Net Sales of Key Products) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net product sales	$ 4,492	$ 3,552	$ 12,888	$ 10,183
Alliance revenues	402	496	1,229	2,003
Other revenues	28	21	67	87
Total revenues	4,922	4,069	14,184	12,273
Empliciti [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	41		103
Erbitux [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues		167		501
Opdivo [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	920	305	2,464	467
Sprycel [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	472	411	1,330	1,191
Yervoy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	285	240	789	861
Eliquis [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	884	466	2,395	1,258
Orencia [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	572	484	1,640	1,345
Baraclude [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	306	320	896	1,003
Hepatitis C Franchise [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	379	402	1,352	1,145
Reyataz Franchise [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	238	270	706	867
Sustiva Franchise [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	275	333	819	940
Abilify [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	29	46	97	707
Mature Products And All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 521	$ 625	$ 1,593	$ 1,988