CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 528	$ 627	$ 1,339	$ 1,681
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes (benefits):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(52)	(61)	(137)	(57)
Changes in market value of investments:
Changes in unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes (benefits) of $(20), $16, $(7) and $65	(31)	24	(10)	107
Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains) realized in net income, net of benefits (taxes) of $(3), $(5), $(16) and $(11)	(5)	(8)	(26)	(19)
Net change in market value of investments	(36)	16	(36)	88
Changes in market value of derivatives:
Changes in unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes (benefits) of $1, $3, $2 and $3	2	10	11	11
Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains) included in net income, net of benefits (taxes) of $2, $0, $4 and $0	3	1	(8)	(2)
Net change in the market value of derivatives	5	11	3	9
Change in actuarial net gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plans:
Recognition of actuarial net gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plans, net of taxes (benefits)	0	(2)	0	(2)
Reclassification adjustments for net gains from pension and other postretirement plans, net of taxes (benefits)	0	(1)	0	(1)
Net change in actuarial gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plans	0	(1)	0	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(83)	(33)	(170)	41
Comprehensive income	445	594	1,169	1,722
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	(48)	(40)	(120)	(113)
Less: Other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	6	1	3	0
Comprehensive income attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 403	$ 555	$ 1,052	$ 1,609