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
Balance, January 1, 2014 at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 23,524	$ 21	$ 3,691	$ 18,853	$ (208)	$ 1,167
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		2,107
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)		3
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	42	0	42
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	45		45
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		3
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(39)	0	(39)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(12)
Repurchase of common stock	(308)		(308)
EMC purchase of VMware’s common stock	(115)		(95)			(20)
Stock-based compensation	228		228
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	(136)		(132)			(4)
Change in market value of investments	(3)				(3)	0
Change in market value of derivatives	1				1
Translation adjustment	(31)				(31)
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement	(16)		(16)
Net income	615			580		35
Balance, March 31, 2014 at Mar. 31, 2013	23,839	21	3,448	19,433	(241)	1,178
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2013		2,101
Balance, January 1, 2014 at Dec. 31, 2013	23,786	20	1,406	21,114	(239)	1,485
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	2,020	2,020
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)		13
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	194	0	194
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	44		44
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		1
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(20)	0	(20)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(16)
Repurchase of common stock	(405)	0	(405)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	24		24
Stock-based compensation	244		244
Cash dividends declared	(209)			(209)
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	(107)		(124)			17
Change in market value of investments	19				18	1
Change in market value of derivatives	(3)				(3)	0
Translation adjustment	(4)				(4)
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement (in shares)		29
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement	0		0
Net income	432			392		40
Balance, March 31, 2014 at Mar. 31, 2014	$ 23,995	$ 20	$ 1,363	$ 21,297	$ (228)	$ 1,543
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2014	2,047	2,047