Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019		Sep. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2019		Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Sep. 30, 2018		Jun. 30, 2018		Mar. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Basic EPS
Net earnings	$ 2,801	[1]	$ 1,884	[2]	$ 741	[3]	$ 2,456	[4]	$ (1,826)	[1]	$ 2,747	[2]	$ 1,983	[3]	$ 2,783	[4]	$ 7,882	$ 5,687	$ 5,309
Earnings allocated to participating securities																	40	30	26
Earnings available to common shareholders																	$ 7,842	$ 5,657	$ 5,283
Weighted-average basic shares outstanding (in shares)																	1,481	1,541	1,596
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.88		$ 1.27		$ 0.49		$ 1.65		$ (1.23)		$ 1.81		$ 1.26		$ 1.74		$ 5.30	$ 3.67	$ 3.31
Diluted EPS
Net earnings	$ 2,801	[1]	$ 1,884	[2]	$ 741	[3]	$ 2,456	[4]	$ (1,826)	[1]	$ 2,747	[2]	$ 1,983	[3]	$ 2,783	[4]	$ 7,882	$ 5,687	$ 5,309
Earnings allocated to participating securities																	40	30	26
Earnings available to common shareholders																	$ 7,842	$ 5,657	$ 5,283
Weighted-average basic shares outstanding (in shares)																	1,481	1,541	1,596
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)																	3	5	7
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding (in shares)																	1,484	1,546	1,603
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.88		$ 1.26		$ 0.49		$ 1.65		$ (1.23)		$ 1.81		$ 1.26		$ 1.74		$ 5.28	$ 3.66	$ 3.30

[1] Fourth quarter results in 2019 included an after-tax charge of $438 million related to the change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities offset by after-tax income of $435 million from a legal settlement related to an intellectual property dispute with a third party and $297 million from an amended and restated license agreement between AbbVie and Reata. Fourth quarter results in 2018 included an after-tax intangible asset impairment charge of $4.5 billion partially offset by an after-tax benefit of $375 million related to the change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities.

[2] Third quarter results in 2019 included after-tax charges of $912 million related to intangible asset impairment and $182 million related to the change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities. Third quarter results in 2018 included after-tax litigation reserves charges of $176 million and $95 million related to the change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities.

[3] Second quarter results in 2019 included an after-tax charge of $2.3 billion related to the change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities resulting from the April 2019 regulatory approvals of SKYRIZI for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Second quarter results in 2018 included after-tax charges of $500 million as a result of a collaboration agreement extension with Calico and $485 million related to the change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities.

[4] First quarter results in 2019 included after-tax charges of $171 million related to the change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities and restructuring charges of $133 million. First quarter results in 2018 included an after-tax benefit of $148 million related to the change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities partially offset by after-tax litigation reserves charges of $100 million.