SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013		May 31, 2012		May 31, 2011
Revenues Included for Management Reporting Not Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Operations (Narrative) [Abstract]
New software licenses and cloud software subscriptions revenues	$ 45	[1]	$ 22	[1]
Software license updates and product support revenues	14	[1]	48	[1]	80	[1]
Hardware systems support revenues	14	[1]	30	[1]	148	[1]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	37,253	[2]	37,221	[2]	35,850	[2]
Expenses	13,272		13,816		13,806
Margin	23,981	[3]	23,405	[3]	22,044	[3]
New software licenses and cloud software subscriptions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	10,350	[2]	9,910	[2]	9,220	[2]
Sales and distribution expenses	5,536		5,198		4,746
Margin	4,814	[3]	4,712	[3]	4,474	[3]
Software license updates and product support [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	17,156	[2]	16,258	[2]	14,876	[2]
Software license updates and product support expenses	1,080		1,116		1,144
Margin	16,076	[3]	15,142	[3]	13,732	[3]
Total software business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	27,506	[2]	26,168	[2]	24,096	[2]
Expenses	6,616		6,314		5,890
Margin	20,890	[3]	19,854	[3]	18,206	[3]
Hardware systems products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	3,033	[2]	3,827	[2]	4,382	[2]
Hardware systems products expenses	1,498		1,841		2,061
Sales and distribution expenses	885		1,050		960
Margin	650	[3]	936	[3]	1,361	[3]
Hardware systems support [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	2,327	[2]	2,505	[2]	2,710	[2]
Hardware systems support expenses	857		1,006		1,221
Margin	1,470	[3]	1,499	[3]	1,489	[3]
Hardware systems business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	5,360	[2]	6,332	[2]	7,092	[2]
Expenses	3,240		3,897		4,242
Margin	2,120	[3]	2,435	[3]	2,850	[3]
Total services business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	4,387	[2]	4,721	[2]	4,662	[2]
Services expenses	3,416		3,605		3,674
Margin	$ 971	[3]	$ 1,116	[3]	$ 988	[3]

[1] New software licenses and cloud software subscriptions revenues for management reporting included revenues related to cloud software subscriptions contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities but were not recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $45 million and $22 million for fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively. Software license updates and product support revenues for management reporting included revenues related to software support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities but were not recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $14 million, $48 million and $80 million for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In addition, we did not recognize hardware systems support revenues related to hardware systems support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities in the amounts of $14 million, $30 million and $148 million for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. See Note 10 for an explanation of these adjustments.

[2] Operating segment revenues generally differ from the external reporting classifications due to certain software license products that are classified as service revenues for management reporting purposes. New software licenses and cloud software subscriptions revenues for management reporting included revenues related to cloud software subscriptions contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities but were not recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $45 million and $22 million for fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively. Software license updates and product support revenues for management reporting included revenues related to software support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities but were not recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $14 million, $48 million and $80 million for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In addition, we did not recognize hardware systems support revenues related to hardware systems support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities in the amounts of $14 million, $30 million and $148 million for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. See Note 10 for an explanation of these adjustments and the table below for a reconciliation of our total operating segment revenues to our total revenues.

[3] The margins reported reflect only the direct controllable costs of each line of business and do not include allocations of product development, marketing and partner programs, and corporate, general and administrative and information technology expenses. Additionally, the margins do not reflect amortization of intangible assets, acquisition related and other expenses, restructuring expenses, stock-based compensation, interest expense or certain other expenses, net.