Segment Information (Details 6) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	$ 78,014	$ 76,962
Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	54,584	53,698
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,342	1,312
Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	7,034	7,381
Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,579	1,592
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	4,572	4,210
Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	2,261	2,341
Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(174)	(191)
Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(2,214)	(2,287)
Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	9,657	9,352
Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(627)	(446)
Consolidating Adjustments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(6,422)	(6,404)
Consolidating Adjustments | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(1,630)	(1,733)
Consolidating Adjustments | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(4,225)	(4,064)
Consolidating Adjustments | Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(537)	(574)
Consolidating Adjustments | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(30)	(33)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	19,252	18,805
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	49,112	48,487
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	19,252	18,805
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,342	1,312
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	7,034	7,381
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,630	1,733
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	4,225	4,064
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	2,116	2,166
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	4,572	4,210
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	2,261	2,341
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(174)	(191)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(2,214)	(2,287)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	9,657	9,352
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(589)	(399)
Financial Products | Business
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	35,324	34,879
Financial Products | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	35,332	34,893
Financial Products | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	$ (8)	$ (14)