Financial Instruments (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions, £ in Billions		12 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($)		Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2015 GBP (£)	Aug. 31, 2015 EUR (€)	Aug. 10, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2015 GBP (£)	Jan. 31, 2015 EUR (€)
Effect of Fair Value Hedges on Results of Operations [Abstract]
Cumulative fair value adjustments resulted in increase in long-term debt		$ 1		$ 12
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Value of Interest rate swap terminated | £									£ 1.0
Alliance Boots [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Outstanding debt		9,000
Notes Due 2024 [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Debt issuance	[1],[2]	$ 1,985		0
Maturity year		2024
Notes Due 2044 [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Debt issuance	[1]	$ 1,491		0
Maturity year		2044
Three-month LIBOR [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives assets, Notional Amount		$ 1,500
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Derivative notional principal amount		$ 1,500
Three-month LIBOR [Member] | Contract One [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Debt instrument, maturity period		10 years
Cash paid to settle swap		$ 45
Three-month LIBOR [Member] | Contract Two [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Debt instrument, maturity period		30 years
Cash paid to settle swap		$ 18
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Derivative maturity date		Jul. 31, 2015
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | One-month LIBOR [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives assets, Fair Value		$ 250
Fixed interest rate percentage		5.25%				5.25%	5.25%
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Six-month LIBOR [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives assets, Fair Value		$ 750
Fixed interest rate percentage		5.25%				5.25%	5.25%
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Derivative notional amount terminated								$ 500
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Effect of Fair Value Hedges on Results of Operations [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		$ (4)		(15)	$ 63
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		(4)		(15)	63
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Effect of Fair Value Hedges on Results of Operations [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		1		0	0
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		1		0	0
Basis Swaps [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives assets, Notional Amount	[3]	1
Derivatives assets, Fair Value		0
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Derivative notional principal amount	[3]	1
Notes [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Effect of Fair Value Hedges on Results of Operations [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		6		15	(43)
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		6		15	(43)
Interest Rate Cap [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives assets, Notional Amount						£ 1.5	€ 2,000
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Derivative notional principal amount						£ 1.5	€ 2,000
Derivative notional amount terminated | €										€ 600
Warrants [Member] | Other income/(expenses) [Member]
Effect of Fair Value Hedges on Results of Operations [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		759		366	111
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		759		366	111
Foreign Currency Forwards [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Effect of Fair Value Hedges on Results of Operations [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		78		0	0
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		78		0	0
Foreign Currency Forwards [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other income/(expenses) [Member]
Effect of Fair Value Hedges on Results of Operations [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		72		0	0
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		72		0	0
Second Step Transaction Foreign Currency Forwards [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other income/(expenses) [Member]
Effect of Fair Value Hedges on Results of Operations [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		(166)		0	0
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments		(166)		0	$ 0
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Forward Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative liability, Notional Amount				1,500
Derivative liability, Fair value				44
Other Current Assets [Member] | Foreign Currency Forwards [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives assets, Notional Amount	[3]	1,205
Derivatives assets, Fair Value		34
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Derivative notional principal amount	[3]	1,205
Other Non-currents Assets [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives assets, Notional Amount		250	[3]	1,000
Derivatives assets, Fair Value		2		16
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Derivative notional principal amount		250	[3]	1,000
Other Non-currents Assets [Member] | Warrants [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Warrants [Abstract]
Derivative asset		2,140		$ 553
Other Current Liabilities [Member] | Foreign Currency Forwards [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives assets, Notional Amount	[3]	495
Derivatives assets, Fair Value		9
Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Derivative notional principal amount	[3]	$ 495

[1] All notes are presented net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs, where applicable.

[2] Pound Sterling denominated notes are translated at the August 31, 2015 spot rate of $1.54 to one British Pound Sterling.

[3] Amounts are presented in U.S. dollar equivalents.