v3.20.4
Segments of Business and Geographic Areas - Schedule of Revenue from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas (Details)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 03, 2021
USD ($)
Dec. 29, 2019
USD ($)
Segment
Dec. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Segment
Oct. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Oct. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 82,584 $ 82,059 $ 81,581    
Identifiable Assets 174,894 157,728      
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets     1,200    
Contingent consideration reversal (1,148) $ 0 $ 0    
Number of segments | Segment   3 3    
Restructuring charges 247 $ 266 $ 251    
In-process research and development (Note 5) $ 181 $ 890 1,126    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 0.60% 0.60%      
Pending Litigation          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Loss contingency, estimate of possible loss       $ 5,000 $ 4,000
Medical Devices          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 22,959 $ 25,963 26,994    
Restructuring charges 300 400      
Regulation charge 100        
In-process research and development (Note 5) 200        
Litigation expense $ 300 $ 400 1,700    
Restructuring Charge, Net of Accrual Adjustment     600    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business (11.60%) (3.80%)      
Medical Devices | Interventional Solutions          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 3,046 $ 2,997 2,646    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 1.60% 13.30%      
Medical Devices | Diabetes Care          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers     1,009    
Consumer          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 14,053 $ 13,898 13,853    
Restructuring charges   100      
Litigation expense $ 3,900 $ 400 300    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 1.10% 0.30%      
Consumer | Baby Care          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 1,517 $ 1,675 1,858    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business (9.40%) (9.90%)      
Consumer | OTC          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 4,824 $ 4,444 4,334    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 8.50% 2.50%      
Consumer | Skin health/Beauty          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 4,450 $ 4,593 4,382    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business (3.10%) 4.80%      
Consumer | Oral Care          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 1,641 $ 1,528 1,555    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 7.40% (1.70%)      
Pharmaceutical          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 45,572 $ 42,198 40,734    
Unrealized loss on securities     200    
Restructuring charges 100 100      
In-process research and development (Note 5)   900      
Litigation expense $ 800 4,300      
Research and Development Expense   $ 300      
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 8.00% 3.60%      
Pharmaceutical | Immunology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 15,055 $ 13,950 13,120    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 7.90% 6.30%      
Pharmaceutical | Oncology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 12,367 $ 10,692 9,844    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 15.70% 8.60%      
Pharmaceutical | Pulmonary Hypertension          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 3,148 $ 2,623 2,573    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 20.00% 1.90%      
Pharmaceutical | Stelara | Immunology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 7,707 $ 6,361 5,156    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 21.10% 23.40%      
Pharmaceutical | Tremfya | Immunology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 1,347 $ 1,012 544    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 33.20% 85.90%      
Pharmaceutical | Erleada | Oncology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 760 $ 332 124    
Pharmaceutical | IMBRUVICA | Oncology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 4,128 $ 3,411 2,615    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 21.00% 30.40%      
Pharmaceutical | DARZALEX | Oncology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 4,190 $ 2,998 2,025    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 39.80% 48.00%      
Pharmaceutical | OPSUMIT | Pulmonary Hypertension          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 1,639 $ 1,327 1,215    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 23.50% 9.20%      
Property, Plant and Equipment          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Long-Lived Assets $ 18,766 $ 17,658      
Other Intangible Assets          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Long-Lived Assets 89,795 81,282      
Ci:z Holdings Co. Ltd. | Consumer          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Equity Investments   300      
Alios Biopharma Inc and XO1 Limited | Pharmaceutical          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
In-process research and development (Note 5)     1,100    
XO1          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Contingent consideration reversal     (200)    
Actelion | Pharmaceutical          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Acquisition related costs   200 200    
AMO | Medical Devices          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Acquisition related costs     100    
Auris Health          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Contingent consideration reversal (1,148)        
Auris Health | Medical Devices | Other Income [Member]          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Contingent consideration reversal (1,100)        
Auris Health | Pharmaceutical          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Acquisition related costs   100      
United States          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 43,133 $ 42,097 41,884    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 2.50% 0.50%      
United States | Medical Devices          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 11,036 $ 12,384 12,837    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business (10.90%) (3.50%)      
United States | Medical Devices | Interventional Solutions          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 1,452 $ 1,443 1,283    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 0.60% 12.50%      
United States | Medical Devices | Diabetes Care          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers     371    
United States | Consumer          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 6,362 $ 5,839 5,761    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 9.00% 1.40%      
United States | Consumer | Baby Care          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 376 $ 362 422    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 3.70% (14.20%)      
United States | Consumer | OTC          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 2,460 $ 2,010 1,850    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 22.40% 8.60%      
United States | Consumer | Skin health/Beauty          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 2,350 $ 2,392 2,403    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business (1.70%) (0.40%)      
United States | Consumer | Oral Care          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 683 $ 621 637    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 9.90% (2.50%)      
United States | Pharmaceutical          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 25,735 $ 23,874 23,286    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 7.80% 2.50%      
United States | Pharmaceutical | Immunology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 10,175 $ 9,641 9,073    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 5.50% 6.30%      
United States | Pharmaceutical | Oncology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 5,092 $ 4,299 4,331    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 18.50% (0.70%)      
United States | Pharmaceutical | Pulmonary Hypertension          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 2,133 $ 1,684 1,651    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 26.60% 2.00%      
United States | Pharmaceutical | OPSUMIT          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business   9.40%      
United States | Pharmaceutical | Stelara | Immunology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 5,240 $ 4,346 3,469    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 20.60% 25.30%      
United States | Pharmaceutical | Tremfya | Immunology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 926 $ 764 453    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 21.30% 68.50%      
United States | Pharmaceutical | Erleada | Oncology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 583 $ 297 124    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 96.10%        
United States | Pharmaceutical | IMBRUVICA | Oncology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 1,821 $ 1,555 1,129    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 17.10% 37.70%      
United States | Pharmaceutical | DARZALEX | Oncology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 2,232 $ 1,567 1,203    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 42.40% 30.30%      
United States | Pharmaceutical | OPSUMIT | Pulmonary Hypertension          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 1,008 $ 766 700    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 31.70%        
Non-US          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 39,451 $ 39,962 39,697    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business (1.30%) 0.70%      
Non-US | Medical Devices          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 11,923 $ 13,579 14,157    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business (12.20%) (4.10%)      
Non-US | Medical Devices | Interventional Solutions          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 1,594 $ 1,554 1,363    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 2.60% 14.00%      
Non-US | Medical Devices | Diabetes Care          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers     638    
Non-US | Consumer          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 7,691 $ 8,059 8,092    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business (4.60%) (0.40%)      
Non-US | Consumer | Baby Care          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 1,141 $ 1,313 1,436    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business (13.10%) (8.60%)      
Non-US | Consumer | OTC          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 2,364 $ 2,434 2,484    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business (2.90%) (2.00%)      
Non-US | Consumer | Skin health/Beauty          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 2,100 $ 2,201 1,979    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business (4.60%) 11.20%      
Non-US | Consumer | Oral Care          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 958 $ 906 918    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 5.70% (1.20%)      
Non-US | Pharmaceutical          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 19,837 $ 18,324 17,448    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 8.30% 5.00%      
Non-US | Pharmaceutical | Immunology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 4,880 $ 4,309 4,047    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 13.20% 6.50%      
Non-US | Pharmaceutical | Oncology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 7,275 $ 6,393 5,513    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 13.80% 16.00%      
Non-US | Pharmaceutical | Pulmonary Hypertension          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 1,015 $ 939 922    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 8.20% 1.90%      
Non-US | Pharmaceutical | OPSUMIT          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business   9.00%      
Non-US | Pharmaceutical | Stelara | Immunology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 2,467 $ 2,015 1,687    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 22.40% 19.40%      
Non-US | Pharmaceutical | Tremfya | Immunology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 421 $ 248 91    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 69.90%        
Non-US | Pharmaceutical | Erleada | Oncology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 176 35 0    
Non-US | Pharmaceutical | IMBRUVICA | Oncology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 2,307 $ 1,856 1,486    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 24.30% 24.90%      
Non-US | Pharmaceutical | DARZALEX | Oncology          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 1,958 $ 1,430 822    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 36.90% 73.90%      
Non-US | Pharmaceutical | OPSUMIT | Pulmonary Hypertension          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers $ 631 $ 562 515    
Percentage Change In Sales By Segment Of Business 12.30%        
Corporate, Non-Segment          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Other Non Long Lived Assets $ 66,333 58,788      
Corporate, Non-Segment | General Corporate          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Long-Lived Assets 1,029 1,049      
Identifiable Assets 31,803 25,356      
Operating Segments          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers 82,584 82,059 81,581    
Long-Lived Assets 107,532 97,891      
Operating Segments | Medical Devices          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Identifiable Assets 49,578 49,462      
Operating Segments | Consumer          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Identifiable Assets 27,355 26,618      
Operating Segments | Pharmaceutical          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Identifiable Assets 66,158 56,292      
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Securities 500 600      
Operating Segments | NIZORAL | Consumer          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets     300    
Operating Segments | PANCREASE | Pharmaceutical          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets     200    
Operating Segments | LifeScan | Medical Devices          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business     500    
Operating Segments | United States          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers 43,133 42,097 41,884    
Long-Lived Assets 49,951 41,528      
Operating Segments | Europe          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers 18,980 18,466 18,753    
Long-Lived Assets 49,363 48,015      
Operating Segments | Western Hemisphere excluding U.S.           
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers 5,335 5,941 6,113    
Long-Lived Assets 2,734 2,862      
Operating Segments | Asia-Pacific, Africa          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Sales to Customers 15,136 15,555 $ 14,831    
Long-Lived Assets $ 5,484 $ 5,486      
Wholesaler 1 | Sales Revenue, Net          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Concentration risk (as a percent) 16.00% 15.00% 14.00%    
Wholesaler 2 | Sales Revenue, Net          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Concentration risk (as a percent) 12.00% 12.00% 11.00%    
Wholesaler 3 | Sales Revenue, Net          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Concentration risk (as a percent) 12.00% 11.00%      
AdvancedSterilizationProducts          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business   $ 2,000      
AdvancedSterilizationProducts | Operating Segments | Medical Devices          
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]          
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business   $ 2,000