2.2.0.25truefalse40703 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets (Schedule of Changes in the Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details)truefalseIn Thousandsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse3/31/2011
USD ($) / shares
USD ($)
$As_Of_3_31_2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$As_Of_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_Goodwillus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse754456000754456falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse532669000532669falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to adoption of FAS 142 and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 43
falsefalse3false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureintangibleassetsscheduleofchangesincarryingamountofgoodwilldetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Arresto Biosciences, Inc. [Member]
3/31/2011
USD ($)
$As_Of_3_31_2011_dei_LegalEntityAxis_gild_ArrestoBiosciencesIncMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseArresto Biosciences, Inc. [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_ArrestoBiosciencesIncMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0gild_BusinessAcquisitionPreliminaryPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillAmountgildfalsedebitinstantAmount of goodwill arising from the preliminary purchase price allocation for a business combination, which is the excess of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse221787000221787falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of goodwill arising from the preliminary purchase price allocation for a business combination, which is the excess of the cost of the acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Amount to be adjusted pending completion of valuations necessary to finalize purchase prices allocation.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse23Intangible Assets (Schedule of Changes in the Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue