Segments of Business and Geographic Areas - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016	Jul. 03, 2016	Apr. 03, 2016	Jan. 03, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Jun. 28, 2015	Mar. 29, 2015	Jan. 01, 2017	Jan. 03, 2016	Dec. 28, 2014
Sales by segment of business
Sales to Customers	$ 18,106	$ 17,820	$ 18,482	$ 17,482	$ 17,811	$ 17,102	$ 17,787	$ 17,374	$ 71,890	$ 70,074	$ 74,331
Earnings before provision for taxes on income	4,324	5,281	4,904	5,294	3,758	4,122	5,741	5,575	19,803	19,196	20,563
Identifiable Assets	141,208				133,411				141,208	133,411
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment									3,226	3,463	3,714
Depreciation and Amortization									3,754	3,746	3,895
Consumer
Sales by segment of business
Sales to Customers	3,432	3,261	3,419	3,195	3,320	3,314	3,483	3,390
Pharmaceutical
Sales by segment of business
Sales to Customers	8,232	$ 8,400	$ 8,654	$ 8,178	8,064	$ 7,694	$ 7,946	$ 7,726
Operating Segments
Sales by segment of business
Identifiable Assets	91,221				87,895				91,221	87,895
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment									2,885	3,238	3,365
Depreciation and Amortization									3,422	3,433	3,604
Corporate, Non-Segment
Sales by segment of business
Less: Expense not allocated to segments									1,043	1,151	1,027
Corporate, Non-Segment | General Corporate
Sales by segment of business
Identifiable Assets	49,987				45,516				49,987	45,516
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment									341	225	349
Depreciation and Amortization									332	313	291
Operating Segments
Sales by segment of business
Sales to Customers									71,890	70,074	74,331
Earnings before provision for taxes on income									20,846	20,347	21,590
Operating Segments | United States
Sales by segment of business
Sales to Customers									37,811	35,687	34,782
Operating Segments | Consumer
Sales by segment of business
Total									13,307	13,507	14,496
Earnings before provision for taxes on income									2,441	1,787	1,941
Identifiable Assets	23,971				20,772				23,971	20,772
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment									486	544	581
Depreciation and Amortization									608	559	577
Operating Segments | Consumer | United States
Sales by segment of business
Total									5,420	5,222	5,096
Operating Segments | Consumer | International
Sales by segment of business
Total									7,887	8,285	9,400
Operating Segments | Pharmaceutical
Sales by segment of business
Total									33,464	31,430	32,313
Earnings before provision for taxes on income									12,827	11,734	11,696
Identifiable Assets	27,477				26,144				27,477	26,144
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment									927	1,063	977
Depreciation and Amortization									886	929	1,053
Operating Segments | Pharmaceutical | United States
Sales by segment of business
Total									20,125	18,333	17,432
Operating Segments | Pharmaceutical | International
Sales by segment of business
Total									13,339	13,097	14,881
Operating Segments | Medical Devices
Sales by segment of business
Total									25,119	25,137	27,522
Earnings before provision for taxes on income									5,578	6,826	7,953
Identifiable Assets	$ 39,773				$ 40,979				39,773	40,979
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment									1,472	1,631	1,807
Depreciation and Amortization									1,928	1,945	1,974
Operating Segments | Medical Devices | United States
Sales by segment of business
Total									12,266	12,132	12,254
Operating Segments | Medical Devices | International
Sales by segment of business
Total									$ 12,853	$ 13,005	$ 15,268