Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Operations of Seaboard Corporation and its Subsidiaries
Percentage of ownership interest held by Seaboard Flour LLC and SFC Preferred LLC	73.00%
Goodwill
Goodwill impairment charges	$ 0	$ 0	$ 4
Goodwill, beginning balance	154	163
Foreign currency translation	6	(13)
Acquisition		4
Goodwill, ending balance	160	154	163
Intangible assets
Intangible assets gross carrying amount	79	79
Accumulated amortization and currency translation	(53)	(48)
Net carrying amount	26	31
Intangible assets
Amortization of intangible assets	8	8	9
2024	8
2025	8
2026	8
2027	2
Changes in the asset retirement obligation
Beginning balance	32	29
Accretion expense	2	2
Liability for additional lagoons placed in service		1
Ending balance	34	32	29
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Interest, net of interest capitalized	56	35	10
Income taxes, net of refunds	47	101	104
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable	4	15	5
Notes Receivable
Notes receivable, net	$ 41	40
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation
Period of measurement to determine highly inflationary accounting	3 years
Three-year cumulative inflation rate	100.00%
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	$ 22	18
Acquisition		4
Goodwill, ending balance	22	22	18
Commodity Trading and Milling
Goodwill
Goodwill, beginning balance	132	145
Foreign currency translation	6	(13)
Goodwill, ending balance	138	132	145
Customer relationships
Intangible assets
Intangible assets gross carrying amount	51	51
Accumulated amortization and currency translation	(34)	(31)
Net carrying amount	17	20
Trade names
Intangible assets
Intangible assets gross carrying amount	28	28
Accumulated amortization and currency translation	(19)	(17)
Net carrying amount	9	11
Allowance for Credit Losses
Movement in valuation and qualifying accounts
Balance at beginning of year	31	31	28
Provision	5	7	5
Net deductions	(6)	(7)	(2)
Balance at end of year	30	31	31
Allowance for Non-current Notes Receivable
Movement in valuation and qualifying accounts
Balance at beginning of year	17	18	17
Provision	2		1
Net deductions	(3)	(1)
Balance at end of year	16	17	$ 18
Affiliates
Notes Receivable
Notes receivable, net	2	2
Accounts Receivable | Geographic concentration | Foreign Country
Accounts Receivable
Foreign receivables, excluding receivables due from affiliates	$ 522	$ 659
Net sales | Transferred at point in time
Revenue Recognition
Percentage of revenue	85.00%