2.2.0.25truefalse41601 - Disclosure - Segment Information (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2009_To_12_31_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2false0gild_MajorCustomersPercentageOfTotalRevenuesMinimumgildfalsenadurationMajor Customers Percentage Of Total Revenues Minimumfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.10.1falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureMajor Customers Percentage Of Total Revenues MinimumNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_EntityWideDisclosureOnGeographicAreasLongLivedAssetsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00<font class="_mt"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">At December 31, 2010, the net book value of our property, plant and equipment in the United States, Ireland and Canada was $<font class="_mt">519.4</font> million, $<font class="_mt">112.2</font> million and $<font class="_mt">53.9</font> million, respectively, which comprised approximately <font class="_mt">98</font>% of the total net book value of our property, plant and equipment. </font></font>falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00<div class="MetaData">
<p style="margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 4%; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">At December 31, 2009, the net book value of our property, plant and equipment in the United States, Ireland and Canada was $510.0 million, $115.3 million and $57.0 million, respectively, which comprised approximately 97% of the total net book value of our property, plant and equipment.</font></p></div>falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringDisclosures about long-lived assets (except financial instruments, long-term customer relationships of a financial institution, mortgage and other servicing rights, deferred policy acquisition costs, and deferred tax assets) that are (1) located in the entity's country of domicile, and (2) located in all foreign countries in which the entity holds assets.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse4false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresegmentinformationnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : United States [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_201074http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseUnited States [Member]us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_UnitedStatesMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : United States [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_20095218http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseUnited States [Member]us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_UnitedStatesMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse519400000519.4falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse510000000510.0falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTangible assets attributed to the reportable segment for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes, net of accumulated depreciation. Examples include land, buildings, machinery, vehicles, furniture, and computer equipment.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresegmentinformationnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Ireland [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_201073http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseIreland [Member]us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_IrelandMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Ireland [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_20095217http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseIreland [Member]us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_IrelandMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse112200000112.2falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse115300000115.3falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTangible assets attributed to the reportable segment for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes, net of accumulated depreciation. Examples include land, buildings, machinery, vehicles, furniture, and computer equipment.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresegmentinformationnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Canada [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_201072http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCanada [Member]us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_CanadaMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Canada [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_20095216http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCanada [Member]us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_CanadaMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse5390000053.9falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse5700000057.0falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTangible assets attributed to the reportable segment for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes, net of accumulated depreciation. Examples include land, buildings, machinery, vehicles, furniture, and computer equipment.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse28Segment Information (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)HundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
