Intangibles and Goodwill - Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of the year	$ 16,134	$ 14,424
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	962	1,715
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	(6)	(5)
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal		0
Balance, end of the year	17,090	16,134
Information Storage
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of the year	8,266	7,486
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	917	774
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	2	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal		(6)
Balance, end of the year	9,185	8,266
Enterprise Content Division
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of the year	1,486	1,487
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	0	0
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	(8)	(1)
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal		0
Balance, end of the year	1,478	1,486
RSA Information Security
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of the year	2,203	2,203
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	0	0
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	0	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal		0
Balance, end of the year	2,203	2,203
Pivotal
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of the year	171	177
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	16	0
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	0	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal		6
Balance, end of the year	187	171
VMware Virtual Infrastructure Within EMC Corp
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of the year	4,008	3,071
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	29	941
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	0	(4)
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal		0
Balance, end of the year	$ 4,037	$ 4,008