Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2017 USD ($) Employee Segment	Jan. 03, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 28, 2014 USD ($)
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]
Number of employees | Employee	126,400
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share-based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount	$ 353
Number of business segments | Segment	3
Deferred tax liabilities	$ 6,906	$ 7,159
Minimum reverse repurchase agreement collateral (as a percent)	102.00%
Sales return reserve (as a percent)	1.00%	1.00%	1.00%
Shipping and handling costs	$ 974	$ 996	$ 1,068
Shipping and handling costs as a percent of sales	0.50%
Advertising expense	$ 2,400	2,500	2,600
Cumulative amount of undistributed international earnings	66,200	58,000
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	18,767	19,569	18,710
Southern European Region [Member]
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	1,100	1,300
Consumer Vision Care Diabetes Care And Certain Pharmaceutical And Medical Devices And Diagnostic Customers [Member] | Southern European Region [Member]
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	700	800
Certain Distributors Of Pharmaceutical And Medical Devices And Diagnostic [Member] | Southern European Region [Member]
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 400	500
Minimum | Software Development [Member]
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of the assets	3 years
Maximum | Software Development [Member]
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of the assets	8 years
International
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and short term investments	$ 41,300	38,200
Research and Development Expense [Member]
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)	5.00%
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Statutory Tax Withholding Component [Member]
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$ 269	$ 290	$ 239