INCOME TAXES - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries	$ 1,402,881
Unrecognized deferred tax liability from undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries	124,000
Tax holiday income tax benefits	95,000	$ 100,000	$ 111,000
Deferred tax assets valuation allowance	1,564,554	1,243,207
Increase in deferred tax valuation allowance	321,347
Tax credit carryforwards	1,419,506	1,161,084
Operating Loss Carryforwards	756,010
Unrecognized tax benefits	945,850	985,755	997,935
Unrecognized tax benefits potential to favorably impact effective tax rate	609,555	508,313
Unrecognized tax benefits from adjustments to equity	336,295	477,442
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties expense	37,350	8,681	(17,373)
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties accrued pre-tax	98,204	109,269
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties accrued net of tax benefits	87,417	95,057
Decrease in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible	422,000
Increase in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible	306,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement		$ 0	(64,382)
Tax Credit Carryforwards Expiring Between 2018 and 2027
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	29,674
Tax Credit Carryforwards Expiring Between 2028 and 2037
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	3,885
Tax Credit Carryforwards with Indefinite Carryforward Period
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	1,385,947
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards Expiring Between 2018 and 2027
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	209,066
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards Expiring Between 2028 and 2037
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	255,183
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards with Indefinite Carryforward Period
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 291,761
withholding tax [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Taxes Payable			$ 247,097