Income Taxes , Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 28, 2017	Apr. 29, 2016	Apr. 24, 2015	Apr. 25, 2014
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforward	$ 392
Tax credit carryforward, no expiration	75
Valuation allowance	6,311	$ 7,032
Income tax settlements and adjustments	202	417	$ 349
Charge associated with IRS resolution	404
Net charge associated with expected divestiture of division	125
Disallowance of net operating losses	86
Charge recognized for redemption of intercompany minority interest	18
Benefit recognized from resolution of intercompany debt issues	431
Cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable debt and equity securities became available		9,700
Tax benefit associated with the disposition of a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary		25
Tax adjustment associated with proposed settlement			329
Undistributed earnings from non-U.S. subsidiaries	31,800	29,000
Removal of reinvested assertion on undistributed earnings of certain subsidiaries	200
Tax reductions from tax holiday	475	474	414
Gross unrecognized tax benefits	1,896	2,703	2,860	$ 1,172
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate	1,800	2,100	2,200
Gross unrecognized tax benefits, long-term liability	1,900
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefits is reasonably possible (as much as)	225
Accrued income tax penalties and interest	360	609	656
Interest expense	(208)	$ 80	142
Covidien plc
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Tax on gain associated with the Covidien acquisition			$ 20
Non-U.S. Tax Authorities
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	24,900
Net operating loss carryforwards, no expiration	22,000
Net operating loss carryforwards, expiring in future years	2,900
Net operating loss carryforwards, valuation allowance	7,300
Special deductions not recorded	$ 12,000
Impact on diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.34	$ 0.33	$ 0.37
Non-U.S. Tax Authorities | Subsidiaries
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 17,600
U.S. Tax Authority
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	1,000
Income tax settlements and adjustments		$ 442
State and Local Tax Authorities
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 690