Segments of Business and Geographic Areas - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Jan. 01, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before provision for taxes on income	$ 16,687	$ 15,062	$ 19,359
Identifiable Assets	180,104	167,558
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment	4,424	4,543	4,009
Depreciation and Amortization	7,339	7,486	6,970
Equity securities, FV-NI, gain (loss)	400	400
Proceeds from Royalties Received	300
Restructuring	234	489	275
Acquisition related costs			300
Yellow Jersey Therapeutics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire in Process Research and Development	1,250
Baby Powder | Talc
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Loss contingency, loss in period	5,100	7,000
Innovative Medicine
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring	102		100
Gain (loss) on divestiture		(200)
Litigation expense			100
Innovative Medicine | Momenta
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets, excluding goodwill	200	200
MedTech
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring			300
Acquisition related costs	1,000	200
Gain (loss) on divestiture	200
Regulation charge	200	300	300
Litigation expense	300		600
MedTech | Laminar
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire in Process Research and Development		400
MedTech | V-Wave Ltd.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire in Process Research and Development	500
Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable Assets	141,392	133,034
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment	4,153	4,025	3,494
Depreciation and Amortization	6,997	6,790	5,989
Consumer Health
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment	0	162	303
Depreciation and Amortization	0	383	641
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before provision for taxes on income	22,659	22,915	20,094
Restructuring	269	798
Operating Segments | Innovative Medicine
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before provision for taxes on income	18,919	18,246	15,647
Identifiable Assets	57,070	58,324
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment	1,710	1,653	1,374
Depreciation and Amortization	3,760	3,847	3,687
Restructuring	102	479
Supplies expense	100	700	1,500
Operating Segments | MedTech
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before provision for taxes on income	3,740	4,669	4,447
Identifiable Assets	84,322	74,710
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment	2,443	2,372	2,120
Depreciation and Amortization	3,237	2,943	2,302
Restructuring	167	319
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item, Corporate Nonsegment | General Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable Assets	38,712	34,524
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment	271	356	212
Depreciation and Amortization	$ 342	$ 313	$ 340