Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating Activities
Net income	$ 88	$ 510	$ 991
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(9)	20	15
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	0	279	0
Income from continuing operations	97	211	976
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash:
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	132	134	131
Loss on extinguishment of debt	22	37	19
Long-lived asset impairment charges	0	10	0
Recovery of receivable	0	(3)	(6)
Share-based compensation expense	18	18	14
Deferred income taxes	255	57	(742)
(Loss) gain on asset dispositions	1	(9)	(13)
Gain from the sale of equity method investment to related party	0	0	(6)
Income from equity method investments	(59)	(49)	(50)
Dividends received from equity method investments	42	47	38
Pension settlement	12	20	1
(Increase) decrease in working capital
Receivables	(32)	6	21
Income taxes receivable	(12)	3	(3)
Inventories	(13)	(20)	(16)
Other current assets	(3)	9	1
Payables	20	21	(16)
Accrued expenses	(36)	(39)	(61)
Decrease in other assets	4	0	4
Decrease in pension and other postretirement benefits	(57)	(142)	(28)
Decrease in other liabilities	(13)	(6)	(7)
Other, net	4	9	22
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	382	314	279
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	0	59	52
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	382	373	331
Investing Activities
Purchases of marketable securities	(105)	(274)	(246)
Sales or maturities of marketable securities	97	413	170
Capital expenditures	(168)	(83)	(87)
Proceeds from asset dispositions	2	12	58
Net proceeds from the sale of equity method investment to related party	0	0	52
Acquisition of business	(52)	0	0
Return of capital	0	1	0
Insurance proceeds	1	1	0
Return (deposit) of restricted cash	0	9	(8)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities of continuing operations	(225)	79	(61)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities of discontinued operations	6	667	(2)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities of continuing operations	(219)	746	(63)
Financing Activities
Issuance of debt	500	0	350
Repayment of debt	(521)	(1,131)	(386)
Payment of debt issuance fees	(8)	0	(6)
Issuance of common stock	15	4	6
Repurchase of common stock	(184)	0	0
Repurchases of common stock to satisfy employee tax withholding obligations	(4)	(2)	(8)
Net cash used for financing activities of continuing operations	(202)	(1,129)	(44)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	6	(5)	(10)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations	(39)	(741)	164
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations	6	726	50
Change in cash balance included in discontinued operations	0	0	(3)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(33)	(15)	211
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	427	442	231
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	394	427	442
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures:
Interest paid, net of interest capitalized	82	153	158
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received	10	4	0
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
Amount in accounts payable for capital expenditures	18	15	5
Reversal of USG Boral Building Products earnout	$ 0	$ (24)	$ 0