Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 27,812	$ 27,250	$ 26,535
Costs and expenses:
Operating	17,223	15,917	15,483
Selling, general and administrative	5,647	5,206	5,156
Depreciation and amortization	443	433	443
Restructuring and other corporate matters	775	490	258
Total costs and expenses	24,088	22,046	21,340
Gain on sale of assets	549	0	146
Operating income	4,273	5,204	5,341
Interest expense	(962)	(1,030)	(1,088)
Interest income	66	79	87
Gain (loss) on marketable securities	113	(23)	0
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt	0	18	(38)
Gain on sale of EPIX	0	0	285
Pension settlement charge	0	0	(352)
Other items, net	(145)	(124)	(115)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies	3,345	4,124	4,120
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	9	(617)	(804)
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax	(53)	(47)	4
Net earnings from continuing operations	3,301	3,460	3,320
Net earnings (ViacomCBS and noncontrolling interests)	3,339	3,492	2,373
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(31)	(37)	(52)
Net earnings attributable to ViacomCBS	3,308	3,455	2,321
Net earnings from continuing operations	3,270	3,423	3,268
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 38	$ 32	$ (947)
Basic net earnings (loss) per common share attributable to ViacomCBS:
Net earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 5.32	$ 5.55	$ 5.11
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.06	0.05	(1.48)
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	5.38	5.60	3.63
Diluted net earnings (loss) per common share attributable to ViacomCBS:
Net earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	5.30	5.51	5.05
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.06	0.05	(1.46)
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	$ 5.36	$ 5.56	$ 3.59
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	615	617	640
Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	617	621	647