| **Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income and Supplemental Equity Information - Schedule of Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
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| Other (income) expense                                                                                                                                                                                               | $ (3)stj_Otherincomeexpense                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | $ 0stj_Otherincomeexpense |
| Income tax expense                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 52us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 53us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit |
| Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.                                                                                                                                                                  | (262)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | (249)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |
| Available-for-sale Securities [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |   |
| Other (income) expense                                                                                                                                                                                               | (4)stj_Otherincomeexpense/ us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis= us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember        | 0stj_Otherincomeexpense/ us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis= us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
| Income tax expense                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 2us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit/ us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis= us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember | 0us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit/ us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis= us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
| Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.                                                                                                                                                                  | $ (2)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss/ us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis= us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember       | $ 0us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss/ us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis= us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |

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| - Definition
The net amount of other nonoperating (income) and expense (profit) loss on securities, impairment changes, miscellaneous other (income) expense items) which does not include interest income or interest expense.
+ References
No definition available.
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| - Definition
Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.
+ References
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| - Definition
The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.
+ References
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