Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 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	$ 15,800		$ 48,394
Contract with Customer, Liability [Abstract]
Contract with Customer, Liability	106		106		$ 185	$ 185
Change in Contract with Customer, Liability [Abstract]
Contract with Customer, Liability, Revenue Recognized	36		286
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	1,934		1,934		2,343	1,947
Inventories	8,483		8,483		8,770	9,173
Other Assets, Current	3,707		3,707		3,175	3,175
Other Assets, Current	19,465		19,465		19,918	19,925
Assets	39,664		39,664		39,956	39,963
Other Liabilities, Current	2,925		2,925		2,826	2,833
Liabilities, Current	11,648		11,648		12,563	12,570
Reinvested earnings	18,478		18,478		17,552	17,552
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	19,000		19,000		18,322	18,322
Liabilities and Equity	39,664		39,664		$ 39,956	39,963
Revenues	15,800	$ 14,827	48,394	$ 44,758
Cost of Products Sold	14,742	14,015	45,266	42,182
Gross Profit	1,058	812	3,128	2,576
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	632	225	1,748	1,066
Income taxes	96	30	250	256
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests	536	195	1,498	810
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	536	192	1,495	807
Carbohydrate Solutions [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	2,534		7,782
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Assets	5,846		5,846			6,085
Revenues	2,534	2,607	7,782	7,627
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	288	300	748	793
Starches and sweeteners [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,706		5,048
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	1,706	1,689	5,048	4,893
Bioproducts [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	828		2,734
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	828	918	2,734	2,734
Nutrition [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	922		2,890
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Assets	7,169		7,169			5,568
Revenues	922	885	2,890	2,673
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	67	68	277	239
Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	641		1,970
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	641	590	1,970	1,825
Animal Nutrition [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	281		920
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	281	295	920	848
Oilseeds [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,410		18,760
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Assets	12,559		12,559			11,992
Revenues	6,410	5,735	18,760	17,013
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	349	113	1,042	624
Crushing and origination [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	4,439		12,872
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	4,439	3,697	12,872	10,917
Refining, packaging, biodiesel, and other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,971		5,888
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	1,971	2,038	5,888	6,096
Origination [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,850		18,671
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Assets	8,131		8,131			8,311
Revenues	5,850	5,502	18,671	17,152
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	129	39	363	143
Merchandising and handling [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,786		18,489
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	5,786	5,450	18,489	16,998
Transportation [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	64		182
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	64	52	182	154
Other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	84		291
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Assets	5,068		5,068			$ 5,658
Revenues	84	98	291	293
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	28	$ 21	72	$ 78
Non MTM Products and Services [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	4,535		13,951
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	4,414		13,590
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	121		361
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	2,089		6,433
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	2,089		6,433
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	1,261		3,699
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	1,261		3,699
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	828		2,734
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	828		2,734
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	922		2,890
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	922		2,890
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	641		1,970
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	641		1,970
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	281		920
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	281		920
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	923		2,434
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	923		2,434
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	330		647
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	330		647
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	593		1,787
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	593		1,787
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	517		1,903
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	396		1,542
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	121		361
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	453		1,721
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	396		1,542
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	57		179
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	64		182
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	64		182
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	84		291
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	84		291
Mark-to-Market Products [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	11,265		34,443
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	445		1,349
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	445		1,349
Mark-to-Market Products [Member] | Oilseeds [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,487		16,326
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	4,109		12,225
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	1,378		4,101
Mark-to-Market Products [Member] | Origination [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,333		16,768
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	5,333		16,768
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	1,675		1,675
Inventories	8,760		8,760
Other Assets, Current	3,713		3,713
Other Assets, Current	19,489		19,489
Assets	39,688		39,688
Other Liabilities, Current	2,947		2,947
Liabilities, Current	11,670		11,670
Reinvested earnings	18,480		18,480
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	19,002		19,002
Liabilities and Equity	39,688		39,688
Revenues	15,785		48,518
Cost of Products Sold	14,729		45,388
Gross Profit	1,056		3,130
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	630		1,750
Income taxes	95		250
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests	535		1,500
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	535		1,497
Difference Between Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	259		259
Inventories	(277)		(277)
Other Assets, Current	(6)		(6)
Other Assets, Current	(24)		(24)
Assets	(24)		(24)
Other Liabilities, Current	(22)		(22)
Liabilities, Current	(22)		(22)
Reinvested earnings	(2)		(2)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(2)		(2)
Liabilities and Equity	(24)		(24)
Revenues	15		(124)
Cost of Products Sold	13		(122)
Gross Profit	2		(2)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	2		(2)
Income taxes	1		0
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests	1		(2)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 1		$ (2)