CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 5,031,000,000	$ 4,101,000,000	$ 4,191,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,770,000,000	1,654,000,000	1,718,000,000
Change in fair value of warrants and related amortization	0	0	516,000,000
Gain on previously held equity interest	(337,000,000)	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(322,000,000)	(434,000,000)	(442,000,000)
Stock compensation expense	130,000,000	91,000,000	115,000,000
Equity earnings from equity method investments	(244,000,000)	(143,000,000)	(81,000,000)
Other	296,000,000	364,000,000	148,000,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(391,000,000)	(153,000,000)	115,000,000
Inventories	331,000,000	98,000,000	(644,000,000)
Other current assets	(22,000,000)	0	66,000,000
Trade accounts payable	1,323,000,000	1,690,000,000	1,572,000,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	281,000,000	(128,000,000)	313,000,000
Income taxes	694,000,000	44,000,000	202,000,000
Other non-current assets and liabilities	(275,000,000)	67,000,000	58,000,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	8,265,000,000	7,251,000,000	7,847,000,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(1,367,000,000)	(1,351,000,000)	(1,325,000,000)
Proceeds from sale leaseback transactions	0	444,000,000	60,000,000
Proceeds from sale of businesses	0	0	74,000,000
Proceeds from sale of other assets	655,000,000	59,000,000	155,000,000
Business, investment and asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(4,793,000,000)	(88,000,000)	(126,000,000)
Investment in AmerisourceBergen	0	0	(2,360,000,000)
Other	4,000,000	93,000,000	5,000,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(5,501,000,000)	(843,000,000)	(3,517,000,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in short-term debt with maturities of 3 months or less	586,000,000	33,000,000	29,000,000
Proceeds from debt	5,900,000,000	0	5,991,000,000
Payments of debt	(4,890,000,000)	(6,196,000,000)	(791,000,000)
Stock purchases	(5,228,000,000)	(5,220,000,000)	(1,152,000,000)
Proceeds related to employee stock plans	174,000,000	217,000,000	235,000,000
Cash dividends paid	(1,739,000,000)	(1,723,000,000)	(1,563,000,000)
Other	(98,000,000)	(45,000,000)	(143,000,000)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(5,295,000,000)	(12,934,000,000)	2,606,000,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	15,000,000	20,000,000	(129,000,000)
Changes in cash and cash equivalents:
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(2,516,000,000)	(6,506,000,000)	6,807,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	3,301,000,000	9,807,000,000	3,000,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 785,000,000	$ 3,301,000,000	$ 9,807,000,000