Net Earnings Per Share - Schedule of Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 04, 2015	Jun. 28, 2014	Jul. 04, 2015	Jun. 28, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$ 290	$ 270	$ 552	$ 519
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	281.1	284.2	282.0	284.3
Dilution associated with stock-based compensation plans	4.4	4.7	4.3	4.8
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	285.5	288.9	286.3	289.1
Basic net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (USD per share)	$ 1.03	$ 0.95	$ 1.96	$ 1.83
Diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (USD per share)	$ 1.02	$ 0.93	$ 1.93	$ 1.80
Anti-dilutive shares of common stock excluded from diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	2.6	2.7	3.4	1.3