Segment Information (Details 6) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	$ 78,726	$ 78,509
Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	56,066	55,732
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,393	1,279
Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	6,358	6,968
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	1,257	1,323
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	4,429	4,279
Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	2,230	1,802
Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(2,364)	(2,503)
Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	9,956	9,766
Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(599)	(137)
Consolidating Adjustments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(6,119)	(6,034)
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	(1,579)	(1,633)
Consolidating Adjustments | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(3,843)	(3,672)
Consolidating Adjustments | Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(674)	(692)
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 | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(23)	(37)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	20,313	19,730
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	49,023	48,475
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	20,313	19,730
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,393	1,279
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	6,358	6,968
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,579	1,633
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	3,843	3,672
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,931	2,015
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	4,429	4,279
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	2,230	1,802
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(2,364)	(2,503)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	9,956	9,766
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(645)	(166)
Financial Products | Business
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	35,822	36,068
Financial Products | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	35,753	36,002
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 | Inventory Methodology Differences
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 | Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	$ 69	$ 66