Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Net sales:
Total net sales	$ 9,229	$ 7,126	$ 6,840
Cost of sales and operating expenses:
Total cost of sales and operating expenses	8,411	6,552	6,394
Gross income	818	574	446
Selling, general and administrative expenses	360	329	336
Operating income	458	245	110
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(13)	(19)	(36)
Interest income	22	22	30
Income (loss) from affiliates	7	(18)	(41)
Other investment income, net	133	84	225
Foreign currency gains (losses), net	16	(31)
Miscellaneous, net	13	3	2
Total other income, net	178	41	180
Earnings before income taxes	636	286	290
Income tax expense	(65)	(3)	(3)
Net earnings	571	283	287
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	0	0
Net earnings attributable to Seaboard	$ 570	$ 283	$ 287
Earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 490.36	$ 244.21	$ 246.62
Average number of shares outstanding (in shares)	1,160,779	1,161,526	1,165,758
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(8), $3 and $4:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$ 8	$ (7)	$ (20)
Unrecognized pension cost	31	(23)	(10)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	39	(30)	(30)
Comprehensive income	610	253	257
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(1)
Comprehensive income attributable to Seaboard	609	252	257
Products
Net sales:
Total net sales	7,714	5,993	5,610
Cost of sales and operating expenses:
Total cost of sales and operating expenses	7,223	5,580	5,316
Services
Net sales:
Total net sales	1,445	1,058	1,104
Cost of sales and operating expenses:
Total cost of sales and operating expenses	1,124	915	989
Other
Net sales:
Total net sales	70	75	126
Cost of sales and operating expenses:
Total cost of sales and operating expenses	$ 64	$ 57	$ 89