Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Aug. 04, 2011 Tranche	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Lorillard Tobacco	Aug. 04, 2011 2016 Notes - 3.500% Notes due 2016	Aug. 04, 2011 2041 Notes - 7.000% Notes due 2041	Aug. 21, 2012 2017 Notes - 2.300% Notes due 2017	Jun. 30, 2009 2019 Notes - 8.125% Notes due 2019	Dec. 31, 2013 2019 Notes - 8.125% Notes due 2019	Apr. 30, 2010 2020 Notes - 6.875% Notes due 2020	Apr. 30, 2010 2040 Notes - 8.125% Notes due 2040	May 31, 2013 2023 Notes - 3.750% Notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance of unsecured senior notes	$ 750				$ 500	$ 250	$ 500	$ 750		$ 750	$ 250	$ 500
Unsecured senior debt stated interest rate percent					3.50%	7.00%	2.30%	8.125%		6.875%	8.125%	3.75%
Number of tranches issued	2
Debt instrument maturity date					Aug. 04, 2016	Aug. 04, 2041	Aug. 21, 2017					May 20, 2023
Percentage of ownership interest in subsidiary				100.00%
Minimum incremental increase in interest rate on the notes									0.25%
Maximum incremental increase in interest rate on the notes									2.00%
Debt instrument description									The interest rate payable on the 2019 Notes is subject to incremental increases from 0.25% to 2.00% in the event either Moody's Investors Services, Inc. ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P") or both Moody's and S&P downgrade the 2019 Notes below investment grade (Baa3 and BBB- for Moody's and S&P, respectively). As of December 31, 2013, our debt ratings were Baa2 and BBB- with Moody's and S&P, respectively, both of which are investment grade.
Offer to repurchase notes upon change of control triggering event		101.00%
Number of days ceased to be rated investment grade for becoming change of control triggering event		60 days
Carrying value of notes		3,560	3,111
Estimated fair value of notes		$ 3,872	$ 3,512