| **Other (Income)/Deductions - Net (Footnotes) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 3 Months Ended |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|
||
| **Loss Contingencies [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                |   |   |
| Royalty revenue                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | [1]            | $ 86 | $ 187 |
| Gain on sale of investments                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                | 54 |   |
| Gain on sale of property                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                | $ 48 |   |
| Income from contract resolution                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                |   | 116 |
| Hisun Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                |   |   |
| **Loss Contingencies [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                |   |   |
| Equity method investment, impairment                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                |   | $ 81 |
| Equity method investment, ownership percentage                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                |   | 49.00% |
| Laboratorio Teuto Brasilero [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                |   |   |
| **Loss Contingencies [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                |   |   |
| Equity method investment, impairment                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                |   | $ 50 |
| Equity method investment, ownership percentage                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                | 40.00% | 40.00% |
| Xtandi [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                |   |   |
| **Loss Contingencies [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                |   |   |
| Royalty revenue                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                | $ 35 |   |
| Distribution Rights [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                |   |   |
| **Loss Contingencies [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                |   |   |
| Gain on disposition of intangible assets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                | 42 | $ 16 |
| Collaborative Arrangement, Co-promotion [Member] | Enbrel [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                |   |   |
| **Loss Contingencies [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                |   |   |
| Decrease in royalty revenue                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                | $ 117 |   |
| Royalty period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                | 36 months |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| [1]Royalty-related income decreased in the first quarter of 2017, primarily due to lower royalty income for Enbrel of $117 million, resulting from the expiration on October 31, 2016 of the 36-month royalty period under the collaboration agreement for Enbrel in the U.S. and Canada (the collaboration period under the agreement expired on October 31, 2013), partially offset by the addition of Xtandi royalty-related income of $35 million. |

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Decrease in Royalty Revenue
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Other Nonoperating Income, Miscellaneous
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Royalty Revenue, Term
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| - Definition
This item represents an other than temporary decline in value that has been recognized against an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the investment represents the amount of the write down which is or was reflected in earnings. The written down value is a new cost basis with the adjusted value of the investment becoming its new carrying value subject to the equity accounting method. Evidence of a loss in value might include, but would not necessarily be limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment.
+ References
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| - Definition
The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
+ References
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| - Definition
Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of intangible assets.
+ References
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| - Definition
Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, including oil and gas property and timber property.
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| - Definition
The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of an investment.  A gain would be recognized when the sale price of the investment is greater than the carrying value of the investment.  This element refers to the Gain included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale.
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| - Definition
Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.
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No definition available.
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| - Definition
Revenue earned during the period from the leasing or otherwise lending to a third party the entity's rights or title to certain property. Royalty revenue is derived from a percentage or stated amount of sales proceeds or revenue generated by the third party using the entity's property. Examples of property from which royalties may be derived include patents and oil and mineral rights.
+ References
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