Stockholders' equity (Components of AOCI) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 28,083	$ 25,778	$ 22,096
Ending Balance	29,875	28,083	25,778
Foreign currency translation [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(511)	(264)	(68)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassification adjustments, before tax	(93)	(257)	(218)
Income taxes	(6)	10	22
Ending Balance	(610)	(511)	(264)
Cash flow hedges [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	297	290	(33)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassification adjustments, before tax	(176)	150	298
Reclassification adjustments to income	139	(143)	203
Income taxes	22	0	(178)
Ending Balance	282	297	290
Available-for-sale securities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(260)	(19)	(43)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassification adjustments, before tax	63	(299)	37
Reclassification adjustments to income	61	76	1
Income taxes	(2)	(18)	(14)
Ending Balance	(138)	(260)	(19)
Other [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(6)	(15)	(17)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassification adjustments, before tax	0	8	1
Other	1	1	1
Ending Balance	(5)	(6)	(15)
AOCI [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(480)	(8)	(161)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassification adjustments, before tax	(113)	(141)	336
Reclassification adjustments to income	200	(67)	204
Other	1	1	1
Income taxes	14	(8)	(170)
Ending Balance	$ (471)	$ (480)	$ (8)

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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Amount before tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66004124&loc=SL7669686-108580

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Amount of tax expense (benefit) allocated to other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent entity.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
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Amount before tax of reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent.

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Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

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