Fair Value 1 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents per Consolidated Balance Sheets	$ 102	$ 196	$ 1,211
Financial assets carried at other than fair value [Abstract]
Card Member loans, less reserves	636	556
Loans to affiliates and other	14,136	14,527	10,659
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value [Abstract]
Total Long-term Debt	20,447	24,153
Long Term Debt with Affiliates	7,523	270	$ 0
Carrying Value [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents per Consolidated Balance Sheets	100	200
Other financial assets	24,900	20,600
Financial assets carried at other than fair value [Abstract]
Card Member loans, less reserves	600	600
Loans to affiliates and other	14,100	14,500
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	9,000	8,600
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value [Abstract]
Total Long-term Debt	20,400	24,200
Long Term Debt with Affiliates	7,500	300
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents per Consolidated Balance Sheets	100	200
Other financial assets	24,900	20,600
Financial assets carried at other than fair value [Abstract]
Card Member loans, less reserves	600	600
Loans to affiliates and other	14,100	14,400
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	9,000	8,600
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value [Abstract]
Total Long-term Debt	20,500	24,500
Long Term Debt with Affiliates	7,300	300
Level 1 [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents per Consolidated Balance Sheets	100	200
Other financial assets	100	100
Financial assets carried at other than fair value [Abstract]
Card Member loans, less reserves	0	0
Loans to affiliates and other	0	0
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	0	0
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value [Abstract]
Total Long-term Debt	0	0
Long Term Debt with Affiliates	0	0
Level 2 [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents per Consolidated Balance Sheets	0	0
Other financial assets	24,800	20,500
Financial assets carried at other than fair value [Abstract]
Card Member loans, less reserves	0	0
Loans to affiliates and other	7,400	10,000
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	9,000	8,600
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value [Abstract]
Total Long-term Debt	20,500	24,500
Long Term Debt with Affiliates	7,300	300
Level 3 [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents per Consolidated Balance Sheets	0	0
Other financial assets	0	0
Financial assets carried at other than fair value [Abstract]
Card Member loans, less reserves	600	600
Loans to affiliates and other	6,700	4,400
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	0	0
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value [Abstract]
Total Long-term Debt	0	0
Long Term Debt with Affiliates	$ 0	$ 0