v2.4.0.6
Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
years
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Jan. 31, 2010
January 2010 Stock Repurchase Program; $1B [Member]
Oct. 31, 2007
October 2007 Stock Repurchase Program; $3B [Member]
Jan. 31, 2011
January 2011 Stock Repurchase Program; $5B, 3-Year [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
January 2011 Stock Repurchase Program; $5B, 3-Year [Member]
May 31, 2010
May 2010 Stock Repurchase Program; $5B, 3-Year [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
May 2010 Stock Repurchase Program; $5B, 3-Year [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock [Member]
Apr. 30, 2009
CV Therapeutics Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
General Rights Plan [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Stock Option Plans [Member]
years
Dec. 31, 2011
Two Thousand Four Plan [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Performance Based Share Awards [Member]
years
Dec. 31, 2010
Performance Based Share Awards [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Performance Based Share Awards [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
years
Dec. 31, 2011
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
years
Dec. 31, 2010
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Oct. 31, 1999
Maximum [Member]
First Amendment of Rights Plan [Member]
Oct. 31, 2003
Maximum [Member]
Second Amendment of Rights Plan [Member]
Oct. 31, 1999
Minimum [Member]
First Amendment of Rights Plan [Member]
Oct. 31, 2003
Minimum [Member]
Second Amendment of Rights Plan [Member]
Equity Issuance Since Inception [Line Items]                                                  
Authorized common stock repurchase program       $ 1,000,000,000 $ 3,000,000,000 $ 5,000,000,000   $ 5,000,000,000                                  
Aggregate purchase price of the stock repurchased and retired under the stock repurchase programs 2,380,000,000 4,020,000,000 998,100,000       403,100,000   3,020,000,000                                
Number of shares retired under the stock repurchase programs 59,900,000 109,900,000 21,800,000                                            
Incremental common shares attributable to accelerated share repurchase agreements     1,400,000                                            
Average purchase price per share of the stock repurchased and retired under the stock repurchase programs     $ 45.69       $ 39.80   $ 36.57                                
Remaining authorized amount of stock repurchases 4,600,000,000 1,980,000,000                                              
Decrease in common stock and APIC 186,200,000 319,800,000 61,700,000                                            
Excess of purchase price over par value charged against retained earnings 2,210,000,000 3,710,000,000 940,800,000                                            
Preferred stock, shares authorized 5,000,000 5,000,000               800,000                              
Preferred stock, shares outstanding 0 0                                              
Preferred Stock, Participation Rights                      

The Rights Plan provides for the distribution of a preferred stock purchase right as a dividend for each share of our common stock. The purchase rights are not currently exercisable. Under certain conditions involving an acquisition or proposed acquisition by any person or group of 15% or more of our common stock, the purchase rights permit the holders (other than the 15% holder) to purchase our common stock at a 50% discount from the market price at that time, upon payment of a specified exercise price per purchase right. In addition, in the event of certain business combinations, the purchase rights permit the purchase of the common stock of an acquirer at a 50% discount from the market price at that time. Under certain conditions, the purchase rights may be redeemed by our Board in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.0025 per purchase right. The purchase rights have no voting privileges and are attached to and automatically trade with our common stock.

                         
Number of shares authorized for future issuance                           47,406,212                      
Options assumed from acquisition and converted into options to purchase common stock                     1,800,000                            
Number of shares authorized for grant                           121,594,183                      
Total intrinsic value of options exercised 194,500,000 262,300,000 379,800,000                                            
Total fair value of stock options vested 96,400,000 124,600,000 162,900,000                                            
Number of options outstanding that are expected to vest 8,734,108                                                
Weighted average exercise price of options outstanding that are expected to vest $ 43.79                                                
Intrinsic Value of options outstanding that are expected to vest 10,300,000                                                
Weighted average remaining contractual life of options outstanding that are expected to vest, years 7.6                                                
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding 557,200,000                                                
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercisable 545,800,000                                                
Weighted-average remaining contractual life for options outstanding, years 4.8                                                
Weighted-average remaining contractual life for options exercisable, years 4.1                                                
Unrecognized compensation cost related to equity awards                         163,000,000   26,900,000     7,300,000 218,900,000            
Unrecognized compensation costs, weighted-average period of recognition, years                         2.4   1.3     1.4 3.3            
Share based awards granted                             603,400 412,505 426,305   4,215,000 1,974,000 1,368,000        
Payout percentage, minimum                             0.00%                    
Payout percentage, maximum                             200.00%                    
Share based awards weighted-average grant date fair values                             $ 38.44 $ 54.25 $ 61.89   $ 38.79 $ 40.90 $ 48.24        
Stock-based compensation expense 192,378,000 200,041,000 185,758,000                       24,600,000 21,300,000 14,900,000                
Awards vesting period                             three                    
Percentage of purchase price lower than fair market value of common stock                                   85.00%              
Shares issued under Employee Stock Purchase Plan                                   1,199,739              
Value of shares issued under Employee Stock Purchase Plan 35,013,000 32,307,000 34,873,000                             35,000,000              
Shares reserved for issuance                                   33,280,000              
Shares available for issuance                                   5,367,672              
Percentage proposed acquisition by group                       15.00%                          
Discount from the market price                       50.00%                          
Price per purchase right that may be redeemed by our board in whole                       $ 0.0025                          
The exercise price of each class of warrants or rights outstanding                                           100 400 15 100
Maximum shares of full value awards                           25,000,000                      
Total fair value of RSUs that vested $ 25,400,000 $ 13,100,000 $ 1,700,000