ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTITURES, LICENSING AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Nov. 20, 2019	Nov. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2022
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire businesses, net of cash acquired					$ 1,610	$ 13,084	$ 24,777
Total Revenues					46,385	42,518	26,145
Net Earnings/(Loss)					7,014	(8,995)	3,460
Business acquisition, transaction costs							657
IPRD charge - MyoKardia acquisition					0	11,438	0
Royalty Income					(666)	(644)	(686)
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses, net of cash divested					748	715	15,642
Divestiture (Gains)/Losses					9	55	1,168
Royalty income, nonoperating					45	23	11
Tecentriq royalties
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from out-licensed arrangements						324
Patent settlement income						239
Royalty income, nonoperating					90	19	0
Dragonfly
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Upfront payments for licensing and alliance arrangements						475
Payment for additional targets made to collaborative partner						75
Collaborative arrangement contingent payments maximum exposure						2,700
Mature brand, Teofarma
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses, net of cash divested						50
Divestiture (Gains)/Losses						49
Diabetes Business
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Royalty Income					(622)	(567)	(650)
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses, net of cash divested					612	558	661
Divestiture (Gains)/Losses					0	0	0
Diabetes Business | Minimum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of net sales payable to alliance partner				10.00%
Diabetes Business | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of net sales payable to alliance partner				25.00%
Diabetes Business | Amylin Related Products
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of potential future royalties transferred			70.00%
Business sale royalty expense					28	39	48
Diabetes Business | Onglyza and Farxiga Products
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Royalty Income							165
Business sale royalty expense					75	67
Diabetes Business | Onglyza and Farxiga Products | Minimum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of potential future royalties transferred		20.00%
Diabetes Business | Onglyza and Farxiga Products | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of potential future royalties transferred		25.00%
Diabetes Business | Supply Agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Royalty Income					725	673	533
Otezla
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Royalty Income					0	0	0
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses, net of cash divested					0	0	13,400
Asset divestiture, fair value of developed product rights							13,000
Asset divestiture, fair value of inventory							381
Divestiture (Gains)/Losses					$ 0	0	0
Erbitux | North America
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Collaboration distribution fee percentage					39.00%
Erbitux | Japan
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Royalty Income					$ 32		23
Manufacturing Facility | Anagni
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Tangible asset impairment charges							121
MyoKardia Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration paid						13,089
Deferred income taxes						295
Forbius
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration paid						185
Contingent and regulatory milestone payments						815
Deferred income taxes						7
Cormorant
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Contingent and regulatory milestone payments						$ 100
Immatics | Subsequent Event
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Contingent and regulatory milestone payments								$ 770
License and other arrangements upfront payments								$ 150
Agenus
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Contingent and regulatory milestone payments					1,400
License and other arrangements upfront payments					$ 200
Celgene
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, share price (in usd per share)	$ 50.00
Business combination, potential payment per share based upon future events (in usd per share)	$ 9.00				$ 9.00
Payments to acquire businesses, gross	$ 35,745
Payments to acquire businesses, net of cash acquired	$ 24,600
MyoKardia Acquisition | MyoKardia Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, share price (in usd per share)						$ 225.00
Celgene
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total Revenues							1,900
Net Earnings/(Loss)							$ 1,600