2.2.0.7 true SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) (USD $) 41501 - Disclosure - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) true false false false 1 USD false false Unit13 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 Unit1 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Unit14 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 2 USD false false Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Unit13 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 Unit1 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit14 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 2 gild_CashPaymentAgreementToAcquireCgiPharmaceuticals gild false debit instant Cash Payment Agreement To Acquire CGI Pharmaceuticals false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 true true false false 120000000 120000000 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Cash Payment Agreement To Acquire CGI Pharmaceuticals No authoritative reference available. false 8 2 gild_MinimumNumberOfConsecutiveTradingDaysClosingPriceAboveConversionPrice gild false na duration Minimum number of consecutive trading days that the closing price of Gilead's stock price must stay above 130% of the... false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 20 20 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:integerItemType integer Minimum number of consecutive trading days that the closing price of Gilead's stock price must stay above 130% of the conversion price per share in order for the convertible notes to be convertible. No authoritative reference available. false 9 2 gild_MeasurementWindowConsecutiveTradingDaysForNotesToBeSubjectToConversion gild false na duration The measurement window of consecutive trading days of the previous quarter for notes to be subject to conversion. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 30 30 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:integerItemType integer The measurement window of consecutive trading days of the previous quarter for notes to be subject to conversion. No authoritative reference available. false 10 2 gild_ClosingPriceOfCommonStockPercentageOfApplicableConversionPricePerShareForNotestoBeSubjectToConversion gild false na duration Closing Price of Common Stock Percentage of the Applicable Conversion Price Per Share For Notes to Be Subject to Conversion false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 1.3 1.3 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:percentItemType pure Closing Price of Common Stock Percentage of the Applicable Conversion Price Per Share For Notes to Be Subject to Conversion No authoritative reference available. false 11 2 gild_PercentageOfProductOfClosingPriceOfCommonStockAndConversionRateThatTradingPricePerOneThousandDollarPrincipalAmountHasToBeLessThanForConversionOfNotes gild false na instant Percentage Of The Product Of The Closing Price Of Company's Common Stock and Applicable Conversion Rate That The Trading... false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 0.98 0.98 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:percentItemType pure Percentage Of The Product Of The Closing Price Of Company's Common Stock and Applicable Conversion Rate That The Trading Price Per One Thousand Dollar Principal Amount Has To Be Less Than For Conversion Of Convertible Senior Notes No authoritative reference available. false 12 2 gild_PercentageOfPrincipalAmountOfNotesThatHolderMayRequireUsToPurchaseUponChangeInControl gild false na duration Percentage of principal amount of Notes that holder may require us to purchase upon a change in control. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 100 100 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:pureItemType pure Percentage of principal amount of Notes that holder may require us to purchase upon a change in control. No authoritative reference available. false 13 2 gild_PurchasePriceOfConvertibleNoteHedges gild false debit instant Purchase Price Of Convertible Note Hedges false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 362600000 362600000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Purchase Price Of Convertible Note Hedges No authoritative reference available. false 14 2 gild_NumberOfSharesCoveredByPurchaseOfConvertibleNoteHedges gild false na instant Number Of Shares Covered By The Purchase Of Convertible Note Hedges false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 55300000 55300000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Number Of Shares Covered By The Purchase Of Convertible Note Hedges No authoritative reference available. false 15 2 us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 55300000 55300000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Contracts and securities that allow the holder to buy common stock from the entity. A call option that gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to purchase shares of common stock from the entity in accordance with an agreement upon payment of a specified amount. A warrant is a security that gives the holder the right to purchase common stock in accordance with the terms of the instrument, usually upon payment of a specified amount. The dilutive effect of which is reflected in diluted EPS by application of the treasury stock method unless another method is required to be applied. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 40 -Subparagraph a Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 17, 18, 19, 171 false 16 2 gild_ProceedsFromSaleOfWarrants gild false debit duration Proceeds from sale of warrants. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 155400000 155400000 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Proceeds from sale of warrants. No authoritative reference available. false 19 2 gild_NetCostOfConvertibleNoteHedgeAndWarrantTransactions gild false debit instant Net Cost of Convertible Note Hedge and Warrant Transactions false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 207200000 207200000 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Net Cost of Convertible Note Hedge and Warrant Transactions No authoritative reference available. false 20 2 gild_FuturePaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock gild false debit instant Future Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 1000000000 1000000000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Future Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock No authoritative reference available. false 21 2 gild_AmountOfCommonStockSharesRepurchased gild false na instant Amount of Common Stock Shares Repurchased false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 7400000 7400000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Amount of Common Stock Shares Repurchased No authoritative reference available. false 22 2 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false true false false 248000000 248000000 false false false 2 false true false false 1854081000 1854081000 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The cash outflow to reacquire common stock during the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 18 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph a false 23 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresubsequenteventstabledetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 4 USD true false false false gild_Notes2011Member us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi gild_Notes2011Member us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis explicitMember Unit13 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 29 2 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 38.75 38.75 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number APB14-1 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph b false 39 2 us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights us-gaap true na instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 50.80 50.80 false false false us-types:perUnitItemType decimal The exercise price of each class of warrants or rights outstanding. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph i -Subparagraph 4 -Article 4 false 45 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresubsequenteventstabledetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 5 USD true false false false gild_Notes2013Member us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi gild_Notes2013Member us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis explicitMember Unit13 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 51 2 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 38.10 38.10 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number APB14-1 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph b false 61 2 us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights us-gaap true na instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 53.90 53.90 false false false us-types:perUnitItemType decimal The exercise price of each class of warrants or rights outstanding. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph i -Subparagraph 4 -Article 4 false 67 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresubsequenteventstabledetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 6 USD true false false false gild_Notes2014Member us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi gild_Notes2014Member us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis explicitMember Unit13 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 Unit1 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 69 2 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPrincipalOutstanding us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 1250000000 1250000000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Amount of outstanding principal due under the debt instrument at the end of the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number APB14-1 -Paragraph 31 -Subparagraph b false 70 2 gild_ConvertibleDebtCoupon gild false na duration Contractual interest coupon of the convertible debt false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 0.01 0.01 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:percentItemType pure Contractual interest coupon of the convertible debt No authoritative reference available. false 71 2 gild_DebtInstrumentConversionRateShares gild false na duration Debt Instrument Conversion Rate, Shares false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 22.1845 22.1845 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Debt Instrument Conversion Rate, Shares No authoritative reference available. false 72 2 gild_PrincipalAmountOfConvertibleSeniorNotesUsedInConversionRate gild false credit duration Principal amount of convertible senior notes used in conversion rate. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 1000 1000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Principal amount of convertible senior notes used in conversion rate. No authoritative reference available. false 73 2 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 45.08 45.08 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number APB14-1 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph b false 83 2 us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights us-gaap true na instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false true false false 56.763 56.763 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:perUnitItemType decimal The exercise price of each class of warrants or rights outstanding. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph i -Subparagraph 4 -Article 4 false 84 2 gild_DebtInstrumentEffectiveConversionPriceAfterConsideringNoteHedgesAndWarrants gild false debit duration Effective conversion price per share of convertible senior notes after considering note hedges and warrants. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 56.763 56.763 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Effective conversion price per share of convertible senior notes after considering note hedges and warrants. No authoritative reference available. false 89 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresubsequenteventstabledetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 7 USD true false false false gild_Notes2016Member us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi gild_Notes2016Member us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis explicitMember Unit13 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 Unit1 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 91 2 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPrincipalOutstanding us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 1250000000 1250000000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Amount of outstanding principal due under the debt instrument at the end of the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number APB14-1 -Paragraph 31 -Subparagraph b false 92 2 gild_ConvertibleDebtCoupon gild false na duration Contractual interest coupon of the convertible debt false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 0.01625 0.01625 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:percentItemType pure Contractual interest coupon of the convertible debt No authoritative reference available. false 93 2 gild_DebtInstrumentConversionRateShares gild false na duration Debt Instrument Conversion Rate, Shares false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 22.0214 22.0214 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Debt Instrument Conversion Rate, Shares No authoritative reference available. false 94 2 gild_PrincipalAmountOfConvertibleSeniorNotesUsedInConversionRate gild false credit duration Principal amount of convertible senior notes used in conversion rate. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 1000 1000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Principal amount of convertible senior notes used in conversion rate. No authoritative reference available. false 95 2 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 45.41 45.41 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number APB14-1 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph b false 105 2 us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights us-gaap true na instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false true false false 60.102 60.102 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:perUnitItemType decimal The exercise price of each class of warrants or rights outstanding. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph i -Subparagraph 4 -Article 4 false 106 2 gild_DebtInstrumentEffectiveConversionPriceAfterConsideringNoteHedgesAndWarrants gild false debit duration Effective conversion price per share of convertible senior notes after considering note hedges and warrants. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 true true false false 60.102 60.102 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Effective conversion price per share of convertible senior notes after considering note hedges and warrants. No authoritative reference available. false 2 36 false NoRounding NoRounding UnKnown false true