Contingencies (2003 and Subsequent NPM Adjustment Disputes - Continuing Disputes with Non-Signatory States other than New York) (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended					3 Months Ended							9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($) state	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($) state	Nov. 30, 1998 state	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) state panel hearings plantiff	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 state	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) state panel hearings	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 plantiff	Dec. 31, 2003 USD ($)	May 31, 2014 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) before income taxes						$ 2,644	$ 1,727						$ 7,645	$ 6,144
MONTANA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of hearings | hearings						0							0
All Non-Signatory States Excluding New York, Montana and New Mexico [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Non-signatory states, excluding New York, Montana and New Mexico | state						19							19
RJR-Lorillard-ITG Transaction Case [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for legal settlements, incorrect increase													$ 84
Florida State Settlement Agreement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for legal settlements, incorrect increase													28
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement						$ (1,100)	(1,200)						(3,400)	(3,600)
Number of states with settled litigation | state					46
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, number of states | plantiff						52
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement													(702)
Number of states with settled litigation | plantiff						26									24
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM 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
Litigation settlement																$ (145)
Number of states diligently enforcing escrow statute | state				9
Estimate of possible interest income				$ 89
Estimate of possible gain, not recorded											$ 25
Litigation settlement interest expense (income)											$ 64
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Indiana and Kentucky [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of states with settled litigation | state										2
Litigation settlement interest expense (income)												$ 17
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico and Pennsylvania [Member] | Pending Litigation [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] | PM USA [Member] | PENNSYLVANIA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member]
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] | PM USA [Member] | MISSOURI [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible interest loss																	$ (7)
Amount of possible loss																	(12)
Appeal bond posted																	$ 22
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | NEW MEXICO [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible interest loss						$ 2	(2)						2	(2)
Amount of possible loss						$ 3	$ (3)						3	$ (3)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement												(145)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | Indiana and Kentucky [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement												$ (37)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico and Pennsylvania [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement		$ (79)	$ (108)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | PENNSYLVANIA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement								$ (29)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | MARYLAND [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement	$ 12
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2004-2015 NPM Adjustment [Member] | MARYLAND [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible interest loss	$ (7)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2004 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain													$ 388
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2005 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of arbitration panels | panel						2							2
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													214
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2013 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain													223
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2014 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain													246
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2015 NPM Adjustments [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain													292
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2016 NPM Adjustments [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain													$ 296