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Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details)
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Minimum [Member]
Mar. 31, 2015
Maximum [Member]
Mar. 31, 2015
Private Equity Funds, Foreign [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Private Equity Funds, Foreign [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited [Member]
ZAR
Dec. 31, 2014
Mercer Consulting Group [Member]
Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited [Member]
Mar. 31, 2015
Mercer Consulting Group [Member]
Benefitfocus [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 24, 2014
Mercer Consulting Group [Member]
Benefitfocus [Member]
USD ($)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenue target period (in years)     2 years 4 years              
Adjustments to acquisition related contingent consideration liability $ 10mmc_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeinAmountofContingentConsiderationLiabilityExcludingPayments                    
Increase in fair value of contingent consideration due to 5% increase in projections 21mmc_IncreaseInFairValueOfContingentConsiderationDueTo5IncreaseInProjections                    
Decrease in fair value of contingent consideration due to 5% decrease in projections 24mmc_DecreaseinFairValueofContingentConsiderationDueto5DecreaseinProjections                    
Carrying value of investment 399us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments 388us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments     74us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsForeignMember
61us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsForeignMember
278us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mmc_AlexanderForbesGroupHoldingsLimitedMember
       
Percentage of ownership in equity investment                 34.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mmc_AlexanderForbesGroupHoldingsLimitedMember
/ us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis
= mmc_MercerConsultingGroupMember
   
Percentage of business interest acquired                     9.90%mmc_CostMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mmc_BenefitfocusMember
/ us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis
= mmc_MercerConsultingGroupMember
Investment shares owned             443mmc_EquityMethodInvestmentSharesOwned
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mmc_AlexanderForbesGroupHoldingsLimitedMember
443mmc_EquityMethodInvestmentSharesOwned
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mmc_AlexanderForbesGroupHoldingsLimitedMember
     
Share price               10.54us-gaap_SharePrice
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mmc_AlexanderForbesGroupHoldingsLimitedMember
     
Market value of investment             386us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentQuotedMarketValue
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mmc_AlexanderForbesGroupHoldingsLimitedMember
    104us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentQuotedMarketValue
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mmc_BenefitfocusMember
/ us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis
= mmc_MercerConsultingGroupMember
 
Total Consideration                     $ 75us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsOriginalCost
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mmc_BenefitfocusMember
/ us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis
= mmc_MercerConsultingGroupMember