INCOME TAXES - Components of Income before Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
U.S. sources (1)	[1]	$ 251,456	$ 1,047,909	$ 1,321,511
Non-U.S. sources		4,364,576	4,555,663	3,089,019
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		$ 4,616,032	$ 5,603,572	$ 4,410,530

[1] Includes U.S.pension settlement charges of $509,793 and $64,382 for fiscal 2017 and 2015, respectively.