Segment Information (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	$ 82,490	$ 84,681
Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	60,110	61,574
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	2,614	2,810
Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	6,218	6,317
Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	2,628	2,953
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	3,520	3,492
Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,231	1,174
Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(211)	(213)
Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	9,640	9,837
Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(2,606)	(2,697)
Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(654)	(566)
Consolidating Adjustments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(6,132)	(6,416)
Consolidating Adjustments | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(1,164)	(1,185)
Consolidating Adjustments | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(4,146)	(4,488)
Consolidating Adjustments | Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(757)	(674)
Consolidating Adjustments | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(65)	(69)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	23,938	24,563
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	52,540	54,188
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	23,938	24,563
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	2,614	2,810
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	6,218	6,317
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,164	1,185
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	4,146	4,488
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	3,385	3,627
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	3,520	3,492
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,231	1,174
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(211)	(213)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	9,640	9,837
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(2,606)	(2,697)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(499)	(395)
Financial Products | Business
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	36,082	36,909
Financial Products | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	36,172	37,011
Financial Products | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	$ (90)	$ (102)