Segment Information (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) group_presidents segments dealers	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information
Number of group presidents | group_presidents			5
Number of operating segments | segments			6
Useful life to amortize goodwill for segment assets			20 years
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	$ 10,342	$ 12,317	$ 19,803	$ 25,019
Depreciation and amortization	754	761	1,494	1,514
Consolidated profit before taxes	739	1,136	1,104	2,903
Segment assets	78,300		78,300		$ 78,342
Capital expenditures	865	645	$ 1,605	1,471
All Other operating segments
Segment Reporting Information
Number of group presidents | group_presidents			1
Number of smaller operating segments led by Group President | group_presidents			2
Number of wholly-owned dealers involved in segment reallocation | dealers			1
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	41	55	$ 79	127
Depreciation and amortization	53	51	105	100
Consolidated profit before taxes	(14)	(18)	(21)	(25)
Segment assets	1,346		1,346		1,405
Capital expenditures	51	28	67	53
Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	11,119	13,211	$ 21,343	26,810
Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information
Number of operating segments led by Group Presidents | segments			3
Number of operating segments led by Group President responsible for corporate services | segments			1
Reportable Segments
Number of reportable segments | segments			4
Sales and revenues	10,392	12,344	$ 19,905	25,039
Depreciation and amortization	651	674	1,290	1,343
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,191	1,741	2,113	3,833
Segment assets	58,870		58,870		59,605
Capital expenditures	807	667	1,314	1,195
Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	727	867	1,438	1,771
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	10,360	12,426	19,841	25,230
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	9,633	11,559	18,403	23,459
Depreciation and amortization	438	461	872	915
Consolidated profit before taxes	989	1,557	1,743	3,422
Segment assets	21,869		21,869		23,876
Capital expenditures	195	325	405	559
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	727	867	1,438	1,771
Construction Industries | Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	4,438	4,829	8,489	9,866
Construction Industries | Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	4,426	4,803	8,469	9,817
Depreciation and amortization	116	140	229	280
Consolidated profit before taxes	550	588	990	1,333
Segment assets	5,515		5,515		6,176
Capital expenditures	40	54	68	94
Construction Industries | Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	12	26	20	49
Resource Industries | Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	1,514	2,123	3,034	4,181
Resource Industries | Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	1,457	2,048	2,906	4,019
Depreciation and amortization	153	150	308	297
Consolidated profit before taxes	(163)	27	(259)	123
Segment assets	8,193		8,193		8,931
Capital expenditures	59	44	94	79
Resource Industries | Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	57	75	128	162
Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	4,408	5,474	8,318	11,183
Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	3,750	4,708	7,028	9,623
Depreciation and amortization	169	171	335	338
Consolidated profit before taxes	602	942	1,012	1,966
Segment assets	8,161		8,161		8,769
Capital expenditures	96	227	243	386
Energy & Transportation | Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	658	766	1,290	1,560
Financial Products Segment | Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	759	785	1,502	1,580
Financial Products Segment | Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	759	785	1,502	1,580
Depreciation and amortization	213	213	418	428
Consolidated profit before taxes	202	184	370	411
Segment assets	37,001		37,001		$ 35,729
Capital expenditures	612	342	909	636
Financial Products Segment | Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0