Acquisitions, Goodwill, and Acquired Intangible Assets - Allocation of Purchase Price (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 28, 2017	May 12, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Purchase Price
Cash paid, net of cash acquired			$ 13,213	$ 84	$ 13,891	$ 113	$ 13,893	$ 430
Allocation
Goodwill			13,271		13,271		13,271		$ 3,784
Souq Group Ltd [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition		May 12, 2017
Purchase Price
Purchase price		$ 579
Whole Foods Market, Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition	Aug. 28, 2017
Purchase Price
Cash paid, net of cash acquired					13,176
Indemnification holdback					0
Purchase price	$ 13,176				13,176
Allocation
Goodwill			8,985		8,985		8,985
Intangible assets			2,336		2,336		2,336
Property and equipment			3,826		3,826		3,826
Deferred tax assets			96		96		96
Other assets acquired			1,710		1,710		1,710
Long-term debt			(1,158)		(1,158)		(1,158)
Deferred tax liabilities			(934)		(934)		(934)
Other liabilities assumed			(1,685)		(1,685)		(1,685)
Allocation			13,176		$ 13,176		13,176
Acquired intangible assets, weighted-average useful life					24 years
Whole Foods Market, Inc [Member] | Minimum
Allocation
Acquired intangible assets, estimated useful life					1 year
Whole Foods Market, Inc [Member] | Maximum
Allocation
Acquired intangible assets, estimated useful life					25 years
Whole Foods Market, Inc [Member] | Marketing-related
Allocation
Intangible assets			1,928		$ 1,928		1,928
Whole Foods Market, Inc [Member] | Contract-based
Allocation
Intangible assets			408		408		408
Whole Foods Market, Inc [Member] | Technology-based
Allocation
Intangible assets			0		0		0
Whole Foods Market, Inc [Member] | Customer-related
Allocation
Intangible assets			0		0		0
Other 2017 Acquisitions
Purchase Price
Cash paid, net of cash acquired					612
Indemnification holdback					93
Purchase price					705
Allocation
Goodwill			446		446		446
Intangible assets			269		269		269
Property and equipment			16		16		16
Deferred tax assets			15		15		15
Other assets acquired			130		130		130
Long-term debt			(7)		(7)		(7)
Deferred tax liabilities			(20)		(20)		(20)
Other liabilities assumed			(144)		(144)		(144)
Allocation			705		$ 705		705
Acquired intangible assets, weighted-average useful life					4 years
Other 2017 Acquisitions | Minimum
Allocation
Acquired intangible assets, estimated useful life					1 year
Other 2017 Acquisitions | Maximum
Allocation
Acquired intangible assets, estimated useful life					7 years
Other 2017 Acquisitions | Marketing-related
Allocation
Intangible assets			59		$ 59		59
Other 2017 Acquisitions | Contract-based
Allocation
Intangible assets			33		33		33
Other 2017 Acquisitions | Technology-based
Allocation
Intangible assets			129		129		129
Other 2017 Acquisitions | Customer-related
Allocation
Intangible assets			48		48		48
2017 Acquisitions
Purchase Price
Cash paid, net of cash acquired					13,788
Indemnification holdback					93
Purchase price					13,881
Allocation
Goodwill			9,431		9,431		9,431
Intangible assets			2,605		2,605		2,605
Property and equipment			3,842		3,842		3,842
Deferred tax assets			111		111		111
Other assets acquired			1,840		1,840		1,840
Long-term debt			(1,165)		(1,165)		(1,165)
Deferred tax liabilities			(954)		(954)		(954)
Other liabilities assumed			(1,829)		(1,829)		(1,829)
Allocation			13,881		13,881		13,881
2017 Acquisitions | Marketing-related
Allocation
Intangible assets			1,987		1,987		1,987
2017 Acquisitions | Contract-based
Allocation
Intangible assets			441		441		441
2017 Acquisitions | Technology-based
Allocation
Intangible assets			129		129		129
2017 Acquisitions | Customer-related
Allocation
Intangible assets			$ 48		$ 48		$ 48