Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 17,068		$ 32,594
Contract with Customer, Liability [Abstract]
Contract with Customer, Liability	90		90		$ 185	$ 185
Change in Contract with Customer, Liability [Abstract]
Contract with Customer, Liability, Revenue Recognized	126		250
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	1,900		1,900		2,343	1,947
Inventories	7,953		7,953		8,770	9,173
Other Assets, Current	18,647		18,647		19,918	19,925
Assets	38,755		38,755		39,956	39,963
Other Liabilities, Current	3,173		3,173		2,826	2,833
Liabilities, Current	11,718		11,718		12,563	12,570
Reinvested earnings	18,132		18,132		17,552	17,552
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	18,712		18,712		18,322	18,322
Liabilities and Equity	38,755		38,755		$ 39,956	39,963
Revenues	17,068	$ 14,943	32,594	$ 29,931
Cost of Products Sold	15,887	14,051	30,524	28,167
Gross Profit	1,181	892	2,070	1,764
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	652	383	1,116	841
Income taxes	86	108	154	226
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests	566	275	962	615
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	566	276	959	615
Carbohydrate Solutions [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	2,668		5,290
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Assets	6,047		6,047			6,242
Revenues	2,668	2,551	5,290	5,061
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	249	279	462	490
Starches and sweeteners [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,704		3,342
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	1,704	1,629	3,342	3,204
Bioproducts [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	964		1,948
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	964	922	1,948	1,857
Nutrition [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,018		1,968
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Assets	6,765		6,765			5,568
Revenues	1,018	933	1,968	1,788
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	114	94	210	171
Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	693		1,329
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	693	661	1,329	1,235
Animal Nutrition [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	325		639
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	325	272	639	553
Oilseeds [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,675		12,308
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Assets	13,298		13,298			11,835
Revenues	6,675	6,011	12,308	11,237
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	341	201	691	514
Crushing and origination [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	4,823		8,433
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	4,823	3,927	8,433	7,220
Refining, packaging, biodiesel, and other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,852		3,875
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	1,852	2,084	3,875	4,017
Origination [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,606		12,821
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Assets	7,063		7,063			8,311
Revenues	6,606	5,347	12,821	11,650
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	189	57	234	104
Merchandising and handling [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,543		12,703
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	6,543	5,295	12,703	11,548
Transportation [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	63		118
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	63	52	118	102
Other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	101		207
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Assets	4,884		4,884			$ 5,658
Revenues	101	101	207	195
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	31	$ 27	44	$ 57
Non MTM Products and Services [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	4,739		9,416
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	4,616		9,176
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Transferred over Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	123		240
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Carbohydrate Solutions [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	2,245		4,386
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Carbohydrate Solutions [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	2,245		4,386
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Starches and sweeteners [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,281		2,438
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Starches and sweeteners [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,281		2,438
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Bioproducts [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	964		1,948
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Bioproducts [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	964		1,948
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Nutrition [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,018		1,968
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Nutrition [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,018		1,968
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	693		1,329
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	693		1,329
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Animal Nutrition [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	325		639
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Animal Nutrition [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	325		639
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Oilseeds [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	725		1,469
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Oilseeds [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	725		1,469
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Crushing and origination [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	131		317
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Crushing and origination [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	131		317
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Refining, packaging, biodiesel, and other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	594		1,152
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Refining, packaging, biodiesel, and other [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	594		1,152
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Origination [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	650		1,386
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Origination [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	527		1,146
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Origination [Member] | Transferred over Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	123		240
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Merchandising and handling [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	587		1,268
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Merchandising and handling [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	527		1,146
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Merchandising and handling [Member] | Transferred over Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	60		122
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Transportation [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	63		118
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Transportation [Member] | Transferred over Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	63		118
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	101		207
Non MTM Products and Services [Member] | Other [Member] | Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	101		207
Mark-to-Market Products [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	12,329		23,178
Mark-to-Market Products [Member] | Carbohydrate Solutions [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	423		904
Mark-to-Market Products [Member] | Starches and sweeteners [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	423		904
Mark-to-Market Products [Member] | Oilseeds [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,950		10,839
Mark-to-Market Products [Member] | Crushing and origination [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	4,692		8,116
Mark-to-Market Products [Member] | Refining, packaging, biodiesel, and other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,258		2,723
Mark-to-Market Products [Member] | Origination [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,956		11,435
Mark-to-Market Products [Member] | Merchandising and handling [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,956		11,435
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	1,718		1,718
Inventories	8,152		8,152
Other Assets, Current	18,664		18,664
Assets	38,772		38,772
Other Liabilities, Current	3,184		3,184
Liabilities, Current	11,729		11,729
Reinvested earnings	18,138		18,138
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	18,718		18,718
Liabilities and Equity	38,772		38,772
Revenues	17,197		32,733
Cost of Products Sold	16,007		30,659
Gross Profit	1,190		2,074
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	661		1,120
Income taxes	89		155
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests	572		965
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	572		962
Difference Between Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	182		182
Inventories	(199)		(199)
Other Assets, Current	(17)		(17)
Assets	(17)		(17)
Other Liabilities, Current	(11)		(11)
Liabilities, Current	(11)		(11)
Reinvested earnings	(6)		(6)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(6)		(6)
Liabilities and Equity	(17)		(17)
Revenues	(129)		(139)
Cost of Products Sold	(120)		(135)
Gross Profit	(9)		(4)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(9)		(4)
Income taxes	(3)		(1)
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests	(6)		(3)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ (6)		$ (3)