Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			34 Months Ended
	Mar. 17, 2014	Nov. 30, 2006	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Feb. 11, 2016	Dec. 17, 2015	Jul. 30, 2015	May. 20, 2015	Feb. 27, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Dec. 10, 2014	Dec. 01, 2014	Aug. 31, 2014	Jul. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Apr. 17, 2014	Feb. 06, 2014	Dec. 12, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 01, 2013	May. 28, 2013	Feb. 28, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	Feb. 29, 2012
Sold warrants to acquire shares of our common stock, exercise price per share		$ 19.55
Common stock excluded from calculation of diluted earnings per share			6	2	4
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased			500			500								250										250
Total Repurchases of Common Stock, shares			76			277
Total Repurchases of Common Stock			$ 2,000			$ 7,400
Stock repurchase program, remaining number of shares authorized to be repurchased			223			223
Cash dividends declared per common share			$ 0.46	$ 0.45	$ 0.30
Dividends Payable, Amount Per Share					$ 0.10			$ 0.115	$ 0.115	$ 0.115	$ 0.115		$ 0.115			$ 0.115	$ 0.115	$ 0.115	$ 0.10	$ 0.10		$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock			$ 2,063	$ 2,969	$ 3,015
Sold Warrants
Sold warrants to acquire shares of our common stock		215
Warrant
Warrants and Rights Outstanding	$ 109
Exercised Warrants
Conversion of Stock, Shares Issued	29
VMware
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock			$ 1,125	$ 700	$ 508
VMware Stock Repurchase Plan | VMware Class A common stock
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount												$ 1,000			$ 1,000						$ 700				$ 250	$ 600
Total Repurchases of Common Stock, shares			13	8	7
Total Repurchases of Common Stock			$ 1,125	$ 700	$ 508
Stock Repurchased During Period, Amount Per Share			$ 83.36	$ 91.61	$ 76.58
Subsequent Event
Dividends Payable, Amount Per Share							$ 0.115