Income Taxes Income Taxes - Geographic Allocation of Income and Provision for Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		2 Months Ended		3 Months Ended														4 Months Ended	8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	[1],[2]	Aug. 31, 2017	[1]	Dec. 31, 2017	[1],[2],[3]	Jun. 30, 2017	[1]	Mar. 31, 2017	[1],[4],[5]	Dec. 31, 2016	[6]	Sep. 30, 2016	[6]	Jun. 30, 2016	[6]	Mar. 31, 2016	[6],[7]	Dec. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Successor [Member]
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic																			$ (811)
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Foreign																			(775)
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes																			(1,586)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes on continuing operations																			(2,673)
Net income (loss)	$ (295)				$ 1,305														1,010
Predecessor [Member]
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic																				$ 409	$ 1,415	$ 1,301
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Foreign																				1,382	1,308	721
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes																				1,791	2,723	2,022
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes on continuing operations																				149	641	575
Net income (loss)			$ (229)				$ 869		$ 1,121		$ 263		$ 6		$ 1,024		$ 1,232			1,761	2,525	1,959
Continuing Operations [Member] | Successor [Member]
Current Federal Tax Expense (Benefit)																			216
Current State and Local Tax Expense (Benefit)																			22
Current Foreign Tax Expense (Benefit)																			187
Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit)																			425
Deferred Federal Income Tax (Benefit) Expense																			(2,790)
Deferred State and Local Income Tax (Benefit) Expense																			(48)
Deferred Foreign Income Tax (Benefit) Expense																			(260)
Deferred Income Tax (Benefit) Expense																			(3,098)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes on continuing operations																			(2,673)
Net income (loss)																			$ 1,087
Continuing Operations [Member] | Predecessor [Member]
Current Federal Tax Expense (Benefit)																				(563)	4	155
Current State and Local Tax Expense (Benefit)																				(11)	9	2
Current Foreign Tax Expense (Benefit)																				282	539	420
Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit)																				(292)	552	577
Deferred Federal Income Tax (Benefit) Expense																				476	22	135
Deferred State and Local Income Tax (Benefit) Expense																				(8)	(29)	4
Deferred Foreign Income Tax (Benefit) Expense																				(27)	96	(141)
Deferred Income Tax (Benefit) Expense																				441	89	(2)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes on continuing operations																				149	641	575
Net income (loss)																				$ 1,642	$ 2,082	$ 1,447

[1] Includes charges of $(170) million, $(201) million, $(210) million, $(71) million, and $(243) million in the first quarter 2017, second quarter 2017, the period July 1 - August 31, 2017, the period September 1 - September 30, 2017, and the fourth quarter 2017, respectively, related to transaction costs associated with the Merger. Predecessor costs are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses; Successor costs are recoded in integration and separation costs. See Note 3 for additional information.

[2] Includes charges of $(360) million and $(1,109) million during the period September 1 - September 30, 2017 and the fourth quarter 2017, respectively, related to the amortization of inventory step-up as a result of the Merger and the acquisition of the H&N Business, which was included in cost of goods sold. See Note 3 for additional information.

[3] Includes a tax benefit of $2,262 million in the fourth quarter 2017 related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and a benefit related to an internal entity restructuring associated with the Intended Business Separations. See Note 7 for additional information.

[4] First quarter 2017 included a gain of $162 million recorded in sundry income - net associated with the sale of the company's global food safety diagnostic business. See Note 4 for additional information.

[5] First quarter 2017 included a tax benefit of $53 million, as well as a $47 million benefit on associated accrued interest reversals (recorded in sundry income - net), related to a reduction in the company’s unrecognized tax benefits due to the closure of various tax statutes of limitations.

[6] First, second, third and fourth quarter 2016 included charges of $(24) million, $(76) million, $(122) million, and $(164) million, respectively, recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses related to transaction costs associated with the Merger. See Note 3 for additional information.

[7] First quarter 2016 included a gain of $369 million recorded in sundry income - net associated with the sale of the DuPont (Shenzhen) Manufacturing Limited entity, which held certain buildings and other assets. See Note 4 for additional information