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 Interest in VMware
Balance, January 1, 2012 at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 20,280	$ 21	$ 3,405	$ 16,120	$ (235)	$ 969
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		42
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	560	0	560
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	267		267
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net		11
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(126)	0	(126)
Repurchase of common stock		(27)
Repurchase of common stock	(700)	0	(700)
EMC purchase of VMware stock	(300)		(258)			(42)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	20		20
Stock-based compensation	898		898
Impact from equity transactions of non-controlling interests	(350)		(436)			86
Recognition of actuarial net gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plans, net of taxes (benefits) of $(12), $20 and $(10)	(14)				(14)
Change in market value of investments	48				47	1
Net change in the market value of derivatives	(8)				(8)	0
Translation adjustment	2				2
Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Conversion Of Convertible Securities And Warrants		31
Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Conversion Of Convertible Securities And Warrants	(1)		(1)
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine (Note E)	62		62
Net income	2,886			2,733		153
Balance, December 31, 2012 at Dec. 31, 2012	23,524	21	3,691	18,853	(208)	1,167
Ending 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		24
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	342	0	342
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	90		90
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net		11
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(126)	0	(126)
Repurchase of common stock		(122)
Repurchase of common stock	(3,000)	(1)	(2,999)
EMC purchase of VMware stock	(150)		(124)			(26)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	1		1
Stock-based compensation	946		946
Cash dividends declared	(628)			(628)
Impact from equity transactions of non-controlling interests	(333)		(473)			140
Recognition of actuarial net gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plans, net of taxes (benefits) of $(12), $20 and $(10)	43				43
Change in market value of investments	(33)				(33)	0
Net change in the market value of derivatives	3				3	0
Translation adjustment	(44)				(44)
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine (Note E)	58		58
Net income	3,093			2,889		204
Balance, December 31, 2012 at Dec. 31, 2013	23,786	20	1,406	21,114	(239)	1,485
Ending 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		33
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	503	0	503
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	98		98
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net		10
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(110)	0	(110)
Repurchase of common stock		(107)
Repurchase of common stock	(3,000)	0	(2,333)	(667)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	35		35
Stock-based compensation	1,055		1,055
Cash dividends declared	(919)		0	(919)		0
Impact from equity transactions of non-controlling interests	(690)		(654)			(36)
Recognition of actuarial net gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plans, net of taxes (benefits) of $(12), $20 and $(10)	(16)				(16)
Change in market value of investments	18				18	0
Net change in the market value of derivatives	6				6	0
Translation adjustment	(135)				(135)
Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Conversion Of Convertible Securities And Warrants		29
Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Conversion Of Convertible Securities And Warrants	0	0	0
Net income	2,894			2,714		180
Balance, December 31, 2012 at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 23,525	$ 20	$ 0	$ 22,242	$ (366)	$ 1,629
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	1,985	1,985