INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of components of finite-lived intangible assets

The major components of intangible assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 consist of:

	Weighted- Average Remaining Useful Lives (Years)	2020						2019
(in millions)		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization and Impairments		Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization and Impairments		Net Carrying Amount
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Product brands	6	$	20,890	$	(14,914)	$	5,976	$	21,011	$	(13,544)	$	7,467
Corporate brands	7	907		(404)		503		930		(338)		592
Product rights/patents	3	3,305		(3,055)		250		3,297		(2,887)		410
Partner relationships	1	169		(168)		1		166		(165)		1
Technology and other	3	210		(200)		10		209		(189)		20
Total finite-lived intangible assets		25,481		(18,741)		6,740		25,613		(17,123)		8,490
Acquired IPR&D not in service	NA	7		—		7		13		—		13
B&L Trademark	NA	1,698		—		1,698		1,698		—		1,698
		$	27,186	$	(18,741)	$	8,445	$	27,324	$	(17,123)	$	10,201

Schedule of components of indefinite-lived intangible assets

The major components of intangible assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 consist of:

	Weighted- Average Remaining Useful Lives (Years)	2020						2019
(in millions)		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization and Impairments		Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization and Impairments		Net Carrying Amount
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Product brands	6	$	20,890	$	(14,914)	$	5,976	$	21,011	$	(13,544)	$	7,467
Corporate brands	7	907		(404)		503		930		(338)		592
Product rights/patents	3	3,305		(3,055)		250		3,297		(2,887)		410
Partner relationships	1	169		(168)		1		166		(165)		1
Technology and other	3	210		(200)		10		209		(189)		20
Total finite-lived intangible assets		25,481		(18,741)		6,740		25,613		(17,123)		8,490
Acquired IPR&D not in service	NA	7		—		7		13		—		13
B&L Trademark	NA	1,698		—		1,698		1,698		—		1,698
		$	27,186	$	(18,741)	$	8,445	$	27,324	$	(17,123)	$	10,201

Schedule of estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding years

Estimated amortization expense of finite-lived intangible assets for the five years ending December 31 and thereafter are as follows:

(in millions)	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter		Total
Amortization	$	1,389	$	1,204	$	1,030	$	905	$	822	$	1,390	$	6,740

Schedule of changes in the carrying amount of goodwill

The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

(in millions)	Bausch + Lomb/ International		Branded Rx		U.S. Diversified Products		Salix		Ortho Dermatologics		Diversified Products		Total
Balance, January 1, 2018	$	6,016	$	6,631	$	2,946	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	15,593
Impairment of the Salix and Ortho Dermatologics reporting units	—		(2,213)		—		—		—		—		(2,213)
Realignment of Global Solta reporting unit goodwill	(82)		115		(33)		—		—		—		—
Goodwill reclassified to assets held for sale and subsequently disposed	(2)		—		—		—		—		—		(2)
Realignment of segment goodwill	—		(4,533)		(2,913)		3,156		1,267		3,023		—
Impairment of the Dentistry reporting unit	—		—		—		—		—		(109)		(109)
Foreign exchange and other	(127)		—		—		—		—		—		(127)
Balance, December 31, 2018	5,805		—		—		3,156		1,267		2,914		13,142
Acquisition of certain assets of Synergy	—		—		—		3		—		—		3
Goodwill reclassified to assets held for sale (Note 5)	(18)		—		—		—		—		—		(18)
Foreign exchange and other	(1)		—		—		—		—		—		(1)
Balance, December 31, 2019	5,786		—		—		3,159		1,267		2,914		13,126
Assets held for sale reclassified to goodwill (Note 5)	18		—		—		—		—		—		18
Goodwill reclassified to assets held for sale (Note 3)	(217)		—		—		—		—		—		(217)
Foreign exchange and other	117		—		—		—		—		—		117
Balance, December 31, 2020	$	5,704	$	—	$	—	$	3,159	$	1,267	$	2,914	$	13,044