Benefit Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]

Amounts Recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses

The amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive losses at December 31, 2014 consisted of the following:

(in millions)	Pensions			Post- retirement			Post- employment			Total
Net loss	$	(2,637	)	$	(823	)	$	(122	)	$	(3,582	)
Prior service (cost) credit	(23		)	264			—			241
Deferred income taxes	1,037			218			46			1,301
Amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive losses	$	(1,623	)	$	(341	)	$	(76	)	$	(2,040	)

The amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive losses at December 31, 2013 consisted of the following:

(in millions)	Pensions			Post- retirement			Post- employment			Total
Net loss	$	(1,691	)	$	(539	)	$	(128	)	$	(2,358	)
Prior service (cost) credit	(33		)	307			—			274
Deferred income taxes	673			90			48			811
Amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive losses	$	(1,051	)	$	(142	)	$	(80	)	$	(1,273	)

Movements in Other Comprehensive Earnings/Losses

The movements in other comprehensive earnings/losses during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

(in millions)	Pensions			Post- retirement			Post- employment			Total
Amounts reclassified to net earnings as components of net periodic benefit cost:
Amortization:
Net loss	$	147		$	22		$	18		$	187
Prior service cost/credit	10			(43		)	—			(33		)
Deferred income taxes	(61		)	8			(7		)	(60		)
	96			(13		)	11			94
Other movements during the year:
Net loss	(1,093		)	(306		)	(12		)	(1,411		)
Deferred income taxes	425			120			5			550
	(668		)	(186		)	(7		)	(861		)
Total movements in other comprehensive earnings/losses	$	(572	)	$	(199	)	$	4		$	(767	)

The movements in other comprehensive earnings/losses during the year ended December 31, 2013 were as follows:

(in millions)	Pensions			Post- retirement			Post- employment			Total
Amounts reclassified to net earnings as components of net periodic benefit cost:
Amortization:
Net loss	$	271		$	51		$	18		$	340
Prior service cost/credit	10			(45		)	—			(35		)
Other expense:
Net loss	6			—			—			6
Deferred income taxes	(111		)	(2		)	(7		)	(120		)
	176			4			11			191
Other movements during the year:
Net loss	1,218			327			23			1,568
Prior service cost/credit	(7		)	(2		)	—			(9		)
Deferred income taxes	(470		)	(129		)	(10		)	(609		)
	741			196			13			950
Total movements in other comprehensive earnings/losses	$	917		$	200		$	24		$	1,141

The movements in other comprehensive earnings/losses during the year ended December 31, 2012 were as follows:

(in millions)	Pensions			Post- retirement			Post- employment			Total
Amounts reclassified to net earnings as components of net periodic benefit cost:
Amortization:
Net loss	$	224		$	40		$	17		$	281
Prior service cost/credit	10			(45		)	—			(35		)
Other expense (income):
Net loss	21			—			—			21
Prior service cost/credit	—			(26		)	—			(26		)
Deferred income taxes	(99		)	12			(6		)	(93		)
	156			(19		)	11			148
Other movements during the year:
Net loss	(643		)	(161		)	(11		)	(815		)
Deferred income taxes	249			63			3			315
	(394		)	(98		)	(8		)	(500		)
Total movements in other comprehensive earnings/losses	$	(238	)	$	(117	)	$	3		$	(352	)

Pension [Member]

Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]

Projected Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets and Funded Status of Pension Plans

The projected benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of Altria Group, Inc.’s pension plans at December 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows:

(in millions)	2014			2013
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	7,137		$	7,924
Service cost	68			86
Interest cost	345			314
Benefits paid	(410		)	(410		)
Actuarial losses (gains)	1,190			(784		)
Other	—			7
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	8,330			7,137
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	7,077			6,167
Actual return on plan assets	615			927
Employer contributions	15			393
Benefits paid	(410		)	(410		)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	7,297			7,077
Funded status at December 31	$	(1,033	)	$	(60	)

Net Pension Liability Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets

Amounts recognized in Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows:

(in millions)	2014			2013
Other assets	$	—		$	173
Other accrued liabilities	(21		)	(21		)
Accrued pension costs	(1,012		)	(212		)
	$	(1,033	)	$	(60	)

Weighted-Average Assumptions used to Determine Benefit Obligations

The following assumptions were used to determine Altria Group, Inc.’s benefit obligations under the plans at December 31:

	2014		2013
Discount rate	4.1	%	4.9	%
Rate of compensation increase	4.0		4.0

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs

Net periodic pension cost consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

(in millions)	2014			2013			2012
Service cost	$	68		$	86		$	79
Interest cost	345			314			344
Expected return on plan assets	(518		)	(493		)	(442		)
Amortization:
Net loss	147			271			224
Prior service cost	10			10			10
Termination and settlement	—			7			21
Net periodic pension cost	$	52		$	195		$	236

Schedule Of Termination Settlement And Curtailment Cost [Text Block]

The amounts included in termination and settlement in the table above were comprised of the following changes:

(in millions)	2013		2012
Benefit obligation	$	1	$	—
Other comprehensive earnings/losses:
Net loss	6		21
	$	7	$	21

Schedule Of Weighted Average Assumptions To Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Text Block]

The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine Altria Group, Inc.’s net pension cost for the years ended December 31:

	2014		2013		2012
Discount rate	4.9	%	4.0	%	5.0	%
Expected rate of return on plan assets	8.0		8.0		8.0
Rate of compensation increase	4.0		4.0		4.0

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets

The fair values of Altria Group, Inc.’s pension plan assets by asset category were as follows:

Investments at Fair Value as of December 31, 2014

(in millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Common/collective trusts:
U.S. large cap	$	—	$	1,870	$	—	$	1,870
U.S. small cap	—		442		—		442
International developed markets	—		79		—		79
U.S. and foreign government securities or their agencies:
U.S. government and agencies	—		296		—		296
U.S. municipal bonds	—		124		—		124
Foreign government and agencies	—		281		—		281
Corporate debt instruments:
Above investment grade	—		1,765		—		1,765
Below investment grade and no rating	—		527		—		527
Common stock:
International equities	1,000		—		1		1,001
U.S. equities	556		—		—		556
Registered investment companies	63		113		—		176
Other, net	74		91		15		180
Total investments at fair value, net	$	1,693	$	5,588	$	16	$	7,297

Investments at Fair Value as of December 31, 2013

(in millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Common/collective trusts:
U.S. large cap	$	—	$	1,971	$	—	$	1,971
U.S. small cap	—		546		—		546
International developed markets	—		159		—		159
U.S. and foreign government securities or their agencies:
U.S. government and agencies	—		226		—		226
U.S. municipal bonds	—		127		—		127
Foreign government and agencies	—		275		—		275
Corporate debt instruments:
Above investment grade	—		1,371		1		1,372
Below investment grade and no rating	—		380		—		380
Common stock:
International equities	1,050		—		1		1,051
U.S. equities	506		—		—		506
Registered investment companies	159		137		—		296
Other, net	108		47		13		168
Total investments at fair value, net	$	1,823	$	5,239	$	15	$	7,077

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The estimated future benefit payments from the Altria Group, Inc. pension plans at December 31, 2014, were as follows:

(in millions)
2015	$	422
2016	426
2017	434
2018	440
2019	440
2020-2024	2,306

Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]

Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]

Weighted-Average Assumptions used to Determine Benefit Obligations

The following assumptions were used to determine Altria Group, Inc.’s postretirement benefit obligations at December 31:

	2014		2013
Discount rate	4.0	%	4.8	%
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year	7.0		7.0
Ultimate trend rate	5.0		5.0
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate	2019		2018

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs

Net postretirement health care costs consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

(in millions)	2014			2013			2012
Service cost	$	15		$	18		$	18
Interest cost	107			99			115
Amortization:
Net loss	22			51			40
Prior service credit	(43		)	(45		)	(45		)
Curtailment	—			—			(26		)
Net postretirement health care costs	$	101		$	123		$	102

Schedule Of Weighted Average Assumptions To Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Text Block]

The following assumptions were used to determine Altria Group, Inc.’s net postretirement cost for the years ended December 31:

	2014		2013		2012
Discount rate	4.8	%	3.9	%	4.9	%
Health care cost trend rate	7.0		7.5		8.0

Effects of One-Percentage-Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates

A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have had the following effects as of December 31, 2014:

	One-Percentage-Point Increase		One-Percentage-Point Decrease
Effect on total of service and interest cost	6.3	%	(5.4	)%
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	7.2		(6.0	)

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

Altria Group, Inc.’s estimated future benefit payments for its postretirement health care plans at December 31, 2014, were as follows:

(in millions)
2015	$	152
2016	157
2017	158
2018	158
2019	155
2020-2024	722

Changes in Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation

Altria Group, Inc.’s postretirement health care plans are not funded. The changes in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows:

(in millions)	2014			2013
Accrued postretirement health care costs at beginning of year	$	2,317		$	2,663
Service cost	15			18
Interest cost	107			99
Benefits paid	(132		)	(138		)
Actuarial losses (gains)	306			(327		)
Other	—			2
Accrued postretirement health care costs at end of year	$	2,613		$	2,317

Postemployment Benefit Plan [Member]

Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]

Schedule of Postemployment Benefit Disclosure

Net postemployment costs consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

(in millions)	2014		2013			2012
Service cost	$	1	$	1		$	1
Interest cost	1		1			1
Amortization of net loss	18		18			17
Other	2		(17		)	(7		)
Net postemployment costs	$	22	$	3		$	12

Schedule of Changes in Benefit Obligations of Postemployment Plans

Altria Group, Inc.’s postemployment benefit plans are not funded. The changes in the benefit obligations of the plans at December 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows:

(in millions)	2014			2013
Accrued postemployment costs at beginning of year	$	65		$	149
Service cost	1			1
Interest cost	1			1
Benefits paid	(30		)	(65		)
Actuarial losses (gains) and assumption changes	30			(4		)
Other	2			(17		)
Accrued postemployment costs at end of year	$	69		$	65