Other Comprehensive Earnings/Losses (Changes in Each Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Balances at beginning of period		$ (2,878)	$ (1,229)	$ (2,682)	$ (1,378)	$ (1,378)
Other comprehensive earnings (losses) before reclassifications		(496)	(432)	(931)	(281)
Deferred income taxes		174	151	325	98
Other comprehensive earnings (losses) before reclassifications, net of deferred income taxes		(322)	(281)	(606)	(183)
Amounts reclassified to earnings		69	89	212	172
Deferred income taxes		(26)	(33)	(81)	(65)
Amounts reclassified to net earnings, net of deferred income taxes		43	56	131	107
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes		(279)	(225)	(475)	(76)	(1,304)
Balances at end of period		(3,157)	(1,454)	(3,157)	(1,454)	(2,682)
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Balances at beginning of period		(3)	1	(2)	0	0
Other comprehensive earnings (losses) before reclassifications		(3)	(2)	(4)	(1)
Deferred income taxes		1	0	1	0
Other comprehensive earnings (losses) before reclassifications, net of deferred income taxes		(2)	(2)	(3)	(1)
Amounts reclassified to earnings		0	0	0	0
Deferred income taxes		0	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified to net earnings, net of deferred income taxes		0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes		(2)	(2)	(3)	(1)
Balances at end of period		(5)	(1)	(5)	(1)	(2)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Balances at beginning of period		(1,959)	(1,224)	(2,040)	(1,273)	(1,273)
Other comprehensive earnings (losses) before reclassifications		0	0	0	0
Deferred income taxes		0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive earnings (losses) before reclassifications, net of deferred income taxes		0	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified to earnings		64	36	198	116
Deferred income taxes		(24)	(14)	(77)	(45)
Amounts reclassified to net earnings, net of deferred income taxes		40	22	121	71
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes		40	22	121	71
Balances at end of period		(1,919)	(1,202)	(1,919)	(1,202)	(2,040)
SABMiller Plc [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Balances at beginning of period		(916)	(6)	(640)	(105)	(105)
Other comprehensive earnings (losses) before reclassifications		(493)	(430)	(927)	(280)
Deferred income taxes		173	151	324	98
Other comprehensive earnings (losses) before reclassifications, net of deferred income taxes		(320)	(279)	(603)	(182)
Amounts reclassified to earnings		5	53	14	56
Deferred income taxes		(2)	(19)	(4)	(20)
Amounts reclassified to net earnings, net of deferred income taxes		3	34	10	36
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes	[1]	(317)	(245)	(593)	(146)
Balances at end of period		$ (1,233)	$ (251)	$ (1,233)	$ (251)	$ (640)

[1] For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, Altria Group, Inc.’s proportionate share of SABMiller’s other comprehensive earnings/losses consisted primarily of currency translation adjustments.