Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operations of Seaboard Corporation and its Subsidiaries
Percentage of ownership interest held by Seaboard Flour LLC and SFC Preferred LLC		77.00%
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Impairment charges		$ 0
Goodwill
Goodwill, beginning balance		167	$ 22
Acquisition		1	148
Foreign currency translation		(4)	(3)
Goodwill, ending balance		164	167	$ 22
Intangible assets
Gross carrying amount		78	78
Accumulated amortization and currency translation		(20)	(9)
Net carrying amount		58	69
Accumulated amortization		20	9
Intangible assets
Amortization of intangible assets		8	6
2020		8
2021		8
2022		8
2023		8
2024		8
Thereafter		18
Changes in the asset retirement obligation
Beginning balance		23	22
Accretion expense		2	1
Ending balance		25	23	22
Supplemental Non-Cash Transactions
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities		137
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of finance lease liabilities		3
Cash paid for principal payment of finance lease included in financing activity		2
Cash paid for finance lease interest included in operating activity		1
Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities		95
Finance lease assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities		46
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation
Period of measurement to determine highly inflationary accounting	3 years
Three-year cumulative inflation rate	100.00%
Foreign currency gains related to the adoption of highly inflationary accounting		$ (3)	9
Minimum
Principles of Consolidation and Investments in Affiliates
Time lag for reporting financial information		1 month
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful Lives		3 years
Maximum
Principles of Consolidation and Investments in Affiliates
Time lag for reporting financial information		3 months
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful Lives		30 years
Pork
Goodwill
Goodwill, beginning balance		$ 18	18
Goodwill, ending balance		18	18	18
CT&M
Goodwill
Goodwill, beginning balance		149	4
Acquisition		1	148
Foreign currency translation		(4)	(3)
Goodwill, ending balance		146	$ 149	4
CT&M | Mimran
Principles of Consolidation and Investments in Affiliates
Time lag for reporting financial information			3 months
Customer relationships
Intangible assets
Gross carrying amount		50	$ 50
Accumulated amortization and currency translation		(13)	(6)
Net carrying amount		37	44
Accumulated amortization		13	6
Trade names
Intangible assets
Gross carrying amount		28	28
Accumulated amortization and currency translation		(7)	(3)
Net carrying amount		21	25
Accumulated amortization		7	3
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Movement in valuation and qualifying accounts
Balance at beginning of year		33	29	14
Provision		5	7	16
Net deductions		(10)	(3)	(1)
Balance at end of year		28	33	29
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts | Selling, general and administrative expenses
Movement in valuation and qualifying accounts
Provision		5	7	12
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts | Income from affiliates
Movement in valuation and qualifying accounts
Provision				2
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts | Cost of sales
Movement in valuation and qualifying accounts
Provision				2
Allowance for Notes Receivable
Movement in valuation and qualifying accounts
Balance at beginning of year		17	16	16
Provision			1
Balance at end of year		17	17	$ 16
Accounts Receivable | Geographic concentration | Foreign Country
Accounts Receivable
Foreign receivables, excluding receivables due from affiliates		$ 309	$ 327