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, 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)		21
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	302	0	302
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	115		115
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		10
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(115)	0	(115)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(80)
Repurchase of common stock	(2,000)		(2,000)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	1		1
EMC purchase of VMware stock	(150)		(124)			(26)
Stock-based compensation	706		706
Cash dividends declared	(422)			(422)
Impact from equity transactions of non-controlling interests	(184)		(336)			152
Actuarial gain on pension plan	0
Change in market value of investments	(37)				(36)	(1)
Change in market value of derivatives	(3)				(3)
Translation adjustment	(44)				(44)
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement	0		0
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine	49		49
Net income	2,003			1,867		136
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	23,745	21	2,289	20,298	(291)	1,428
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2013		2,058
Beginning Balance 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)		29
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	445	0	445
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	80		80
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		9
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(101)	0	(101)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(52)
Repurchase of common stock	(1,374)	0	(1,374)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	33		33
Stock-based compensation	787		787
Cash dividends declared	(685)			(685)
Impact from equity transactions of non-controlling interests	(402)		(426)			24
Actuarial gain on pension plan	1				1
Change in market value of investments	88				88
Change in market value of derivatives	9				9
Translation adjustment	(57)				(57)
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement (in shares)		29
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement	0	0	0
Net income	1,681			1,568		113
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 24,291	$ 20	$ 850	$ 21,997	$ (198)	$ 1,622
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2014	2,035	2,035