CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 20,280	$ 21	$ 3,405	$ 16,121	$ (235)	$ 968
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		2,050
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)		22
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	300	0	300
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	184		184
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		5
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(67)	0	(67)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(10)
Repurchase of common stock	(260)		(260)
EMC purchase of VMware stock	(95)		(83)			(12)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other	1		1
Stock-based compensation	425		425
Impact from equity transactions of non-controlling interests	(105)		(172)			67
Change in market value of investments	43				43	0
Changes in market value of derivatives	(4)				(4)
Translation adjustment	(8)				(8)
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement (in shares)		32
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement	(1)	0	(1)
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine (Note 4)	(31)		(31)
Net income	1,315			1,236		79
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	22,039	21	3,763	17,357	(204)	1,102
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2012		2,099
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	23,524	21	3,691	18,853	(208)	1,167
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	2,107	2,107
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)		11
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	175	0	175
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	46		46
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		4
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(51)	0	(51)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(42)
Repurchase of common stock	(1,000)	0	(1,000)
EMC purchase of VMware stock	(150)		(124)			(26)
Stock-based compensation	445		445
Cash dividends declared	(212)			(212)
Impact from equity transactions of non-controlling interests	(150)		(269)			119
Change in market value of investments	(37)				(35)	(2)
Changes in market value of derivatives	0
Translation adjustment	(56)				(56)
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement (in shares)		0
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement	1	0	1
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine (Note 4)	32		32
Net income	1,365			1,281		84
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	$ 23,932	$ 21	$ 2,946	$ 19,922	$ (299)	$ 1,342
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2013	2,080	2,080