Segments of Business and Geographic Areas - Operating Profit by Segment of Business (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
		Oct. 02, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Jun. 28, 2015	Oct. 02, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss		28.10%			0.30%
Earnings before provision for taxes on income		$ 5,281	$ 4,122		$ 15,479	$ 15,438
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges					276	1,274
Asset write-downs					187	367
Restructuring charges		62	0		296	0
Consumer
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges			229			229
Pharmaceutical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges				$ 981		981
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Adjustments					513	462
Litigation Expense						136
Medical Devices
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Litigation Expense		55	409		731
Asset write-downs			346			346
Restructuring charges		109			387
Litigation Settlement, Amount						0
Product Liability Accrual, Period Expense						148
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income		$ 5,514	4,378		$ 16,197	16,228
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss		25.90%			(0.20%)
Operating Segments [Member] | Consumer
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income	[1]	$ 679	811		$ 1,816	1,772
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss		(16.30%)			2.50%
Operating Segments [Member] | Pharmaceutical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income	[2]	$ 3,309	2,732		$ 10,340	9,816
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss		21.10%			5.30%
Operating Segments [Member] | Medical Devices
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income	[3]	$ 1,526	835		$ 4,041	4,640
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss		82.80%			(12.90%)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income	[4]	$ 233	$ 256		$ 718	$ 790

[1] Includes a gain of $229 million from the divestiture of the SPLENDA® brand recorded in the fiscal third quarter and fiscal nine months of 2015.

[2] Includes litigation expense of $136 million recorded in the fiscal nine months of 2015. Includes a gain of $981 million recorded in the fiscal nine months of 2015 from the divestiture of the U.S. license rights to NUCYNTA® (tapentadol), NUCYNTA® ER (tapentadol extended-release tablets), and NUCYNTA® (tapentadol) oral solution. Includes a positive adjustment of $513 million and $462 million to previous reserve estimates in the fiscal nine months of 2016 and 2015, respectively.

[3] Includes a restructuring related charge of $109 million and $387 million in the fiscal third quarter and fiscal nine months of 2016, respectively. Includes litigation expense of $55 million and $731 million recorded in the fiscal third quarter and fiscal nine months of 2016, respectively. Includes litigation expense of $409 million in the fiscal third quarter of 2015. Includes a $346 million intangible asset write-down related to Acclarent recorded in the fiscal third quarter and fiscal nine months of 2015. The fiscal nine months of 2015 included $148 million for costs associated with the DePuy ASRTM Hip program.

[4] Amounts not allocated to segments include interest income/expense and general corporate income/expense.