Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Net sales:
Total net sales	$ 9,562	$ 11,243	$ 9,229
Cost of sales and operating expenses:
Total cost of sales and operating expenses	9,246	10,213	8,411
Gross income	316	1,030	818
Selling, general and administrative expenses	403	373	360
Operating income (loss)	(87)	657	458
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(58)	(40)	(13)
Interest income	62	32	22
Income from affiliates	105	152	7
Other investment income (loss), net	85	(239)	133
Foreign currency gains (losses), net	(4)	5	16
Miscellaneous, net	4	12	13
Total other income (expense), net	194	(78)	178
Earnings before income taxes	107	579	636
Income tax benefit (expense)	120	3	(65)
Net earnings	227	582	571
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(2)	(1)
Net earnings attributable to Seaboard	$ 226	$ 580	$ 570
Earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 202.21	$ 499.66	$ 490.36
Average number of shares outstanding (in shares)	1,117,636	1,160,779	1,160,779
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax expense of $(4), $(8) and $(8):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$ (3)	$ (33)	$ 8
Unrecognized pension cost	15	43	31
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	12	10	39
Comprehensive income	239	592	610
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(2)	(1)
Comprehensive income attributable to Seaboard	238	590	609
Products
Net sales:
Total net sales	7,754	8,979	7,714
Cost of sales and operating expenses:
Total cost of sales and operating expenses	7,893	8,707	7,223
Services
Net sales:
Total net sales	1,566	2,100	1,445
Cost of sales and operating expenses:
Total cost of sales and operating expenses	1,194	1,369	1,124
Other
Net sales:
Total net sales	242	164	70
Cost of sales and operating expenses:
Total cost of sales and operating expenses	$ 159	$ 137	$ 64