Commitments and Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Related Party Agreements In March of 2018, the Company made a $20 million contribution to the S&P Global Foundation. In June of 2012, we entered into a license agreement (the "License Agreement") with the holder of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC noncontrolling interest, CME Group, which replaced the 2005 license agreement between Indices and CME Group. Under the terms of the License Agreement, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC receives a share of the profits from the trading and clearing of CME Group's equity index products. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC earned $24 million and $55 million, respectively, of revenue under the terms of the License Agreement. The entire amount of this revenue is included in our consolidated statement of income and the portion related to the 27% noncontrolling interest is removed in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. Legal and Regulatory Matters In the normal course of business both in the United States and abroad, the Company and its subsidiaries are defendants in a number of legal proceedings and are often the subject of government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries. Many of these proceedings, investigations and inquiries relate to the ratings activity of S&P Global Ratings brought by issuers and alleged purchasers of rated securities. In addition, various government and self-regulatory agencies frequently make inquiries and conduct investigations into our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including those related to ratings activities and antitrust matters. For example, as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization registered with the SEC under Section 15E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, S&P Global Ratings is in ongoing communication with the staff of the SEC regarding compliance with its extensive obligations under the federal securities laws. Although S&P Global Ratings seeks to promptly address any compliance issues that it detects or that the staff of the SEC raises, there can be no assurance that the SEC will not seek remedies against S&P Global Ratings for one or more compliance deficiencies. Any of these proceedings, investigations or inquiries could ultimately result in adverse judgments, damages, fines, penalties or activity restrictions, which could adversely impact our consolidated financial condition, cash flows, business or competitive position. With respect to the matters identified below, we have recognized a liability when both (a) information available indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred as of the date of these financial statements and (b) the amount of loss can reasonably be estimated. S&P Global Ratings Financial Crisis Litigation The Company recently entered into an agreement to settle the remaining civil cases in Australia against the Company and certain of its subsidiaries relating to alleged investment losses in collateralized debt obligations rated by S&P Global Ratings. The settlement is subject to court approval. In addition to the Australia cases described above, the Company and its subsidiaries continue to defend civil cases arising out of ratings activities prior to and during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. We do not believe resolution of these cases is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, cash flows, business or competitive position. Shareholder Derivative Actions In August of 2015, two purported shareholders commenced a putative derivative action on behalf of the Company in New York State Supreme Court titled Retirement Plan for General Employees of the City of North Miami Beach and Robin Stein v. Harold McGraw III, et al. The complaint asserted claims for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets, and mismanagement against the board of directors and certain former directors and employees of the Company. In January of 2016, a different purported shareholder commenced a separate putative derivative action on behalf of the Company in New York State Supreme Court titled L.A. Grika v. Harold McGraw III, et al. The allegations in the complaint are substantially similar to those in the North Miami Beach matter. The Grika matter was transferred to the judge presiding over the North Miami Beach matter. In December of 2016, the court issued orders granting the Company’s motions to dismiss both the North Miami Beach and Grika matters. In January of 2017, the plaintiffs in both matters filed notices of appeal. On February 13, 2018, the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of the North Miami Beach matter. On May 3, 2018, the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of the Grika matter. The time for plaintiffs to file appeals in these matters has now expired and accordingly the judgments in the Company’s favor in these matters are now final.

Commitments and Contingencies

Related Party Agreements

In March of 2018, the Company made a $20 million contribution to the S&P Global Foundation.

In June of 2012, we entered into a license agreement (the "License Agreement") with the holder of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC noncontrolling interest, CME Group, which replaced the 2005 license agreement between Indices and CME Group. Under the terms of the License Agreement, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC receives a share of the profits from the trading and clearing of CME Group's equity index products. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC earned $24 million and $55 million, respectively, of revenue under the terms of the License Agreement. The entire amount of this revenue is included in our consolidated statement of income and the portion related to the 27% noncontrolling interest is removed in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.

Legal and Regulatory Matters

In the normal course of business both in the United States and abroad, the Company and its subsidiaries are defendants in a number of legal proceedings and are often the subject of government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries. Many of these proceedings, investigations and inquiries relate to the ratings activity of S&P Global Ratings brought by issuers and alleged purchasers of rated securities. In addition, various government and self-regulatory agencies frequently make inquiries and conduct investigations into our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including those related to ratings activities and antitrust matters. For example, as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization registered with the SEC under Section 15E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, S&P Global Ratings is in ongoing communication with the staff of the SEC regarding compliance with its extensive obligations under the federal securities laws. Although S&P Global Ratings seeks to promptly address any compliance issues that it detects or that the staff of the SEC raises, there can be no assurance that the SEC will not seek remedies against S&P Global Ratings for one or more compliance deficiencies. Any of these proceedings, investigations or inquiries could ultimately result in adverse judgments, damages, fines, penalties or activity restrictions, which could adversely impact our consolidated financial condition, cash flows, business or competitive position.

With respect to the matters identified below, we have recognized a liability when both (a) information available indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred as of the date of these financial statements and (b) the amount of loss can reasonably be estimated.

S&P Global Ratings

Financial Crisis Litigation

The Company recently entered into an agreement to settle the remaining civil cases in Australia against the Company and certain of its subsidiaries relating to alleged investment losses in collateralized debt obligations rated by S&P Global Ratings. The settlement is subject to court approval.

In addition to the Australia cases described above, the Company and its subsidiaries continue to defend civil cases arising out of ratings activities prior to and during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. We do not believe resolution of these cases is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, cash flows, business or competitive position.

Shareholder Derivative Actions

In August of 2015, two purported shareholders commenced a putative derivative action on behalf of the Company in New York State Supreme Court titled Retirement Plan for General Employees of the City of North Miami Beach and Robin Stein v. Harold McGraw III, et al. The complaint asserted claims for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets, and mismanagement against the board of directors and certain former directors and employees of the Company. In January of 2016, a different purported shareholder commenced a separate putative derivative action on behalf of the Company in New York State Supreme Court titled L.A. Grika v. Harold McGraw III, et al. The allegations in the complaint are substantially similar to those in the North Miami Beach matter. The Grika matter was transferred to the judge presiding over the North Miami Beach matter. In December of 2016, the court issued orders granting the Company’s motions to dismiss both the North Miami Beach and Grika matters. In January of 2017, the plaintiffs in both matters filed notices of appeal. On February 13, 2018, the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of the North Miami Beach matter. On May 3, 2018, the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of the Grika matter. The time for plaintiffs to file appeals in these matters has now expired and accordingly the judgments in the Company’s favor in these matters are now final.