|**Net Earnings Per Share**                                            | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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|**Earnings Per Share [Abstract]**                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Net Earnings Per Share                                                | NET EARNINGS PER SHAREThe table below sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (in millions, except per share amounts):Three Months EndedApril 4, 2015March 29, 2014Numerator:Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.$262$249Denominator:Basic weighted average shares outstanding283.0284.4Dilution associated with stock-based compensation plans4.14.9Diluted weighted average shares outstanding287.1289.3Basic net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.$0.93$0.88Diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.$0.91$0.86Approximately4.1 millionand2.7 millionshares of common stock subject to stock options and restricted stock units were excluded from the diluted net earnings per share computation for thethreemonths endedApril 4, 2015andMarch 29, 2014, respectively, because they were not dilutive.
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|                                                                      | Three Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|                                                                      | April 4, 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Numerator:                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.                   | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Denominator:                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Basic weighted average shares outstanding                             | 283.0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Dilution associated with stock-based compensation plans               | 4.1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Diluted weighted average shares outstanding                           | 287.1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Basic net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.   | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

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