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]
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(42)
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	(1,000)		(1,000)
EMC purchase of VMware’s common stock	(150)		(124)			(26)
Stock-based compensation	445		445
Dividends	(212)			(212)
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	(150)		(269)			119
Change in market value of investments	(37)				(35)	(2)
Change in market value of derivatives	0
Translation adjustment	(56)				(56)
Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Conversion Of Convertible Securities And Warrants	1		1
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Equity Component of Convertible Debt, Subsequent Adjustments	32		32
Net income	1,365			1,281		84
Balance, June 30, 2014 at Jun. 30, 2013	23,932	21	2,946	19,922	(299)	1,342
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2013		2,080
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]
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(39)
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)		16
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	234	0	234
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	43		43
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		3
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(28)	0	(28)
Repurchase of common stock	(1,000)	0	(1,000)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	33		33
Stock-based compensation	506		506
Dividends	(446)			(446)
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	(401)		(376)			(25)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	1				1
Change in market value of investments	72				71	1
Change in market value of derivatives	(2)				(2)	0
Translation adjustment	4				4
Net income	1,054			980		74
Balance, June 30, 2014 at Jun. 30, 2014	23,856	20	818	21,648	(165)	1,535
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2014	2,029	2,029
Balance, January 1, 2014 at Mar. 31, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Change in market value of investments	53
Change in market value of derivatives	1
Translation adjustment	9
Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Conversion Of Convertible Securities And Warrants	0	0	0
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement (in shares)		29
Net income	622
Balance, June 30, 2014 at Jun. 30, 2014	$ 23,856	$ 20	$ 818
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2014	2,029	2,029