Segments of Business and Geographic Areas - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Oct. 01, 2023	Jul. 02, 2023	Apr. 02, 2023	Jan. 01, 2023	Oct. 02, 2022	Jul. 03, 2022	Apr. 03, 2022	Dec. 31, 2023	Jan. 01, 2023	Jan. 02, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before provision for taxes on income	$ 4,826	$ 5,217	$ 6,306	$ (1,287)	$ 3,840	$ 5,172	$ 5,144	$ 5,203	$ 15,062	$ 19,359	$ 19,178
Net assets divested	0				27,237				0	27,237
Identifiable Assets	167,558				187,378				167,558	187,378
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment									4,543	4,009	3,652
Depreciation and Amortization									7,486	6,970	7,390
MedTech | Laminar
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire in Process Research and Development									400
Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable Assets	133,034				129,392				133,034	129,392
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment									4,025	3,494	3,131
Depreciation and Amortization									6,790	5,989	6,315
Consumer Health
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment									162	303	314
Depreciation and Amortization									383	641	739
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before provision for taxes on income									22,915	20,094	21,958
Operating Segments | Innovative Medicine
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before provision for taxes on income									18,246	15,647	17,750
Identifiable Assets	58,324				58,436				58,324	58,436
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment									1,653	1,374	1,198
Depreciation and Amortization									3,847	3,687	4,029
Operating Segments | MedTech
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before provision for taxes on income									4,669	4,447	4,208
Identifiable Assets	74,710				70,956				74,710	70,956
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment									2,372	2,120	1,933
Depreciation and Amortization									2,943	2,302	2,286
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Less: Expense not allocated to segments									7,853	735	2,780
Corporate, Non-Segment | General Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable Assets	$ 34,524				$ 30,749				34,524	30,749
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment									356	212	207
Depreciation and Amortization									$ 313	$ 340	$ 336