Retirement Benefit Plans , Additional Information (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 24, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 25, 2014 USD ($)	May 01, 2005 plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Cost of retirement benefit plans	$ 584	$ 433	$ 419
Underfunded status of the plan	(1,400)	(1,300)
Estimated future employer contributions in next fiscal year	73
Expense under defined contribution plans	$ 269	188	145
Treasury bond rate of guaranteed rate of return	10 years
U.S. Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Expense under defined contribution plans	$ 58	53	50
U.S. Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Underfunded status of the plan	(910)	(752)
Defined benefit plan, future amortization of net actuarial loss	89
Employer contributions	112	91
Post-retirement benefit plans, net periodic benefit cost	159	114	149
Post-retirement benefit plans, benefit obligations	3,048	2,956	2,203
Post-retirement benefit plans, fair value of plan assets	2,138	2,204	1,917
Number of new plans created | plan				2
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Underfunded status of the plan	(422)	(458)
Defined benefit plan, future amortization of net actuarial loss	17
Employer contributions	93	80
Post-retirement benefit plans, net periodic benefit cost	74	64	60
Post-retirement benefit plans, benefit obligations	1,535	1,647	1,031
Post-retirement benefit plans, fair value of plan assets	1,113	1,189	889
Post-Retirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Post-retirement benefit plans, net periodic benefit cost	12	14	$ 15
Post-retirement benefit plans, benefit obligations	369	352
Post-retirement benefit plans, fair value of plan assets	$ 269	$ 288
Partnerships [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Range of notice period	45 days
Partnerships [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Range of notice period	95 days
Absolute return strategy funds [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Absolute return strategy funds in process of liquidation, fair value	$ 1
Absolute return strategy funds in process of liquidation, expected receipt of proceeds	5 years
Private equity fund [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Private equity funds, unfunded commitments	$ 119
Private equity funds, estimated minimum liquidation period	1 year
Private equity funds, estimated maximum liquidation period	15 years
Real asset investments [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Real asset investments, estimated liquidation and redemption period	30 days
Real asset investments [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Real asset investments, estimated liquidation and redemption period	10 years
Medtronic Core Contribution [Member] | U.S. Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Expense under defined contribution plans	$ 12