Contingencies (2003-2014 NPM Adjustment Disputes - Continuing Disputes with Non-Signatory States other than New York) (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended						3 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 state	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($) state	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($) state	Nov. 30, 1998 state	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 state	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) case plantiff	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2014 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement interest expense (income)														$ 6	$ 13	$ (47)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes														21,852	8,078	7,774
RJR-Lorillard-ITG Transaction Case [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Incorrect increase in legal settlement payments															42
Florida State Settlement Agreement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Incorrect increase in legal settlement payments														13
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of states with settled litigation | state						46
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount														$ (4,600)	(4,500)	(4,600)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, number of states | plantiff														52
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount														$ 599	599	$ 599
Number of states with settled litigation | plantiff														24
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Settlement agreement, liability reduction percentage														20.00%
Loss contingency, number of states | state					15
Number of states that did not diligently enforcing escrow statutes | state					6
Number of states diligently enforcing escrow statute | state					9
Litigation settlement, amount					$ 145
Estimate of possible interest income					$ 89
Litigation settlement interest expense (income)												$ (64)
Estimate of possible gain, not recorded														$ 25
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico and Pennsylvania [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of states that did not diligently enforcing escrow statutes | state				4
Estimate of possible interest income										$ 66
Litigation settlement interest expense (income)	$ (48)			$ (66)						$ (47)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | MISSOURI
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible loss																			$ 12
Amount of possible interest loss																			7
Appeal bond posted																			$ 22
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | MARYLAND
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible loss																		$ 12
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | NEW MEXICO
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible loss																	$ 3
Amount of possible interest loss																	$ 2
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount													$ 145
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico and Pennsylvania [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount	$ 79			$ 108
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | PENNSYLVANIA
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount								$ (29)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | Indiana and Kentucky [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement interest expense (income)													(17)
Number of states with settled litigation | state											2
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | PENNSYLVANIA
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement interest expense (income)								(13)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes								$ 42
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | Indiana and Kentucky [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount													$ 37
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2004-2014 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible interest loss																		$ 7
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2004-2014 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | NEW YORK
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount							$ 58		$ 126
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2004-2014 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | NEW YORK
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount															$ 126
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2004-2014 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | NEW YORK
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount		$ 126
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2004 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain														388
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2004 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of states with pending litigation | state			17
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2005 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain														181
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2006 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain														154
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2007 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain														185
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2008 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain														250
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2009 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain														211
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2010 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain														218
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2011 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain														166
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2012 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain														210
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2013 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain														218
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2013 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount														38
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2014 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain														241
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2014 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount														41
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2015 NPM Adjustments [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain														$ 289
Other MSA-Related Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of unfavorable verdicts | case														16