Equity - Changes in Number of Shares Outstanding (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issue of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)	1,553,000	867,000	505,000
Issue of shares on exercises of stock options (in shares)	17,000
Payments for repurchase of common stock	$ 0	$ 0	$ 387
Class A
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends (in dollars per share)	$ 0.72	$ 0.72	$ 0.72
Class A | BHGE LLC | GE
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Sale of stock, number of shares issued in transaction (in shares)		132,000,000
Class B | BHGE LLC | GE
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock repurchased (in shares)		12,000,000
Payments for repurchase of common stock		$ 250
Dividends (in dollars per share)		$ 21.07
Common Stock | Class A
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)	650,065,000	513,399,000
Issue of shares for employee stock purchase plan	4,378,000	2,081,000
Exchange of Class B common stock for Class A common stock (in shares)	65,995,000	132,250,000
Repurchase and cancellation of Class B common stock (in shares)	0	0
Ending balance (in shares)	723,999,000	650,065,000	513,399,000
Common Stock | Class A | RSUs
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issue of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)	3,548,000	1,973,000
Common Stock | Class A | Options
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issue of shares on exercises of stock options (in shares)	13,000	362,000
Common Stock | Class B
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)	377,428,000	521,543,000
Issue of shares for employee stock purchase plan	0	0
Exchange of Class B common stock for Class A common stock (in shares)	(65,995,000)	(132,250,000)
Repurchase and cancellation of Class B common stock (in shares)	0	(11,865,000)
Ending balance (in shares)	311,433,000	377,428,000	521,543,000
Common Stock | Class B | RSUs
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issue of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)	0	0
Common Stock | Class B | Options
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issue of shares on exercises of stock options (in shares)	0	0