Intangible Assets Including Goodwill - Intangible Assets Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions |
3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2019 |
Sep. 30, 2018 |
Sep. 30, 2019 |
Sep. 30, 2018 |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
|
| Intangible assets | |||||
| Intangible assets, increase (decrease) | $ 12,526 | ||||
| Gross carrying amount | $ 19,443 | 19,443 | $ 6,489 | ||
| Accumulated amortization | 3,830 | 3,830 | $ 3,402 | ||
| Intangible asset amortization expense | $ 614 | $ 348 | 1,224 | $ 1,031 | |
| Retirement of fully amortized intangible assets | 543 | ||||
| Divested businesses | |||||
| Intangible assets | |||||
| Intangible assets, increase (decrease) | (317) | ||||
| Accumulated amortization, increase (decrease) | (253) | ||||
| Red Hat, Inc. | |||||
| Intangible assets | |||||
| Intangible assets | 13,472 | ||||
| Red Hat, Inc. | Cloud & Cognitive Software | |||||
| Intangible assets | |||||
| Intangible assets | 10,729 | ||||
| Red Hat, Inc. | Global Technology Services | |||||
| Intangible assets | |||||
| Intangible assets | 1,819 | ||||
| Red Hat, Inc. | Global Business Services | |||||
| Intangible assets | |||||
| Intangible assets | 617 | ||||
| Red Hat, Inc. | Systems | |||||
| Intangible assets | |||||
| Intangible assets | $ 306 | ||||