Intangible Assets Including Goodwill - Goodwill by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Changes in Goodwill Balances
Beginning Balance	$ 58,222	$ 36,265
Goodwill Additions	11	23,102
Purchase Price Adjustments		24
Divestitures		(1,257)
Foreign Currency Translation and Other Adjustments	(260)	87
Ending Balance	57,833	58,222
Goodwill impairment losses	0	0
Goodwill accumulated impairment losses	0	0
Red Hat, Inc.
Changes in Goodwill Balances
Purchase Price Adjustments	(139)
Ending Balance	23,000
Cloud & Cognitive Software \| Red Hat, Inc.
Changes in Goodwill Balances
Ending Balance	18,400
Global Business Services \| Red Hat, Inc.
Changes in Goodwill Balances
Ending Balance	1,100
Global Technology Services \| Red Hat, Inc.
Changes in Goodwill Balances
Ending Balance	3,100
Systems \| Red Hat, Inc.
Changes in Goodwill Balances
Ending Balance	400
Business Segments \| Cloud & Cognitive Software
Changes in Goodwill Balances
Beginning Balance	43,037	24,463
Goodwill Additions	11	18,399
Purchase Price Adjustments		133
Foreign Currency Translation and Other Adjustments	(147)	41
Ending Balance	42,762	43,037
Business Segments \| Cloud & Cognitive Software \| Red Hat, Inc.
Changes in Goodwill Balances
Purchase Price Adjustments	(139)
Business Segments \| Global Business Services
Changes in Goodwill Balances
Beginning Balance	5,775	4,711
Goodwill Additions		1,059
Purchase Price Adjustments		1
Divestitures		(1)
Foreign Currency Translation and Other Adjustments	(45)	5
Ending Balance	5,730	5,775
Business Segments \| Global Technology Services
Changes in Goodwill Balances
Beginning Balance	7,141	3,988
Goodwill Additions		3,119
Foreign Currency Translation and Other Adjustments	(61)	34
Ending Balance	7,080	7,141
Business Segments \| Systems
Changes in Goodwill Balances
Beginning Balance	2,270	1,847
Goodwill Additions		525
Purchase Price Adjustments		(110)
Foreign Currency Translation and Other Adjustments	(8)	7
Ending Balance	$ 2,261	2,270
Other \| Divested businesses
Changes in Goodwill Balances
Beginning Balance		1,256
Divestitures		$ (1,256)

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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