Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2013	Apr. 27, 2012	Apr. 29, 2011
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, by Jurisdiction
U.S.	$ 1,806	$ 1,620	$ 1,391
International	2,445	2,525	2,273
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	4,251	4,145	3,664
Current tax expense:
U.S.	509	664	360
International	219	231	188
Total current tax expense	728	895	548
Deferred tax expense (benefit):
U.S.	46	(138)	51
International	10	(27)	10
Net deferred tax expense (benefit)	56	(165)	61
Total provision for income taxes	784	730	609
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss, capital loss, and credit carryforwards	423	367
Pension and post-retirement benefits	239	256
Accrued liabilities	238	266
Stock-based compensation	223	233
Other	200	221
Inventory	121	141
Federal and state benefit on uncertain tax positions	57	81
Gross deferred tax assets	1,501	1,565
Valuation allowance	(313)	(258)
Total deferred tax assets	1,188	1,307
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets	(712)	(710)
Basis impairment	(214)	(178)
Realized loss on derivative financial instruments	(110)	(112)
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities and derivative financial instruments	(87)	(77)
Accumulated depreciation	(56)	(68)
Other	(29)	(31)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(1,208)	(1,176)
Prepaid income taxes	321	321
Income tax receivables	114	137
Deferred tax assets, net	415	589
Reported as (after jurisdictional netting):
Tax assets	539	703
Long-term tax assets	232	176
Deferred tax liabilities	(16)	(14)
Long-term deferred tax liabilities	(340)	(276)
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation
U.S. Federal statutory tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Increase (decrease) in tax rate resulting from:
U.S. state taxes, net of Federal tax benefit	0.50%	0.90%	0.30%
Research and development credit	(1.10%)	(0.60%)	(1.20%)
Domestic production activities	(0.30%)	(0.50%)	(0.40%)
International	(16.70%)	(16.90%)	(19.40%)
Puerto Rico Excise Tax	(1.30%)	(1.40%)	(0.60%)
Impact of restructuring charges, net, certain litigation charges, net, and acquisition-related items	2.00%	0.30%	2.40%
Reversal of excess tax accruals	0.00%	(0.80%)	(1.80%)
Valuation allowance release	(0.20%)	(0.80%)	0.00%
Other, net	0.50%	2.40%	2.30%
Effective tax rate	18.40%	17.60%	16.60%
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reconciliation
Gross unrecognized tax benefits at begining of fiscal year	917	769	538
Gross increases:
Prior year tax positions	12	47	151
Current year tax positions	169	171	172
Gross decreases:
Prior year tax positions	(21)	(53)	(57)
Settlements	(6)	(4)	(32)
Statute of limitation lapses	(3)	(13)	(3)
Gross unrecognized tax benefits at end of fiscal year	$ 1,068	$ 917	$ 769