Segment Information (Segment Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Segment Information
Revenues	$ 16,297	$ 17,068	$ 31,601	$ 32,594
Earnings Before Income Taxes	274	652	589	1,116
Origination [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	6,481	6,640	12,605	12,907
Earnings Before Income Taxes	71	191	147	237
Merchandising and handling [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	6,418	6,577	12,476	12,789
Transportation [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	63	63	129	118
Oilseeds [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	5,747	6,662	11,161	12,264
Earnings Before Income Taxes	291	341	632	690
Crushing and origination [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	3,613	4,374	6,869	7,659
Refining, packaging, biodiesel, and other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	2,134	2,288	4,292	4,605
Carbohydrate Solutions [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	2,441	2,647	4,844	5,248
Earnings Before Income Taxes	192	247	288	460
Starches and sweeteners [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	1,684	1,704	3,306	3,342
Bioproducts [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	757	943	1,538	1,906
Nutrition [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	1,524	1,018	2,806	1,968
Earnings Before Income Taxes	117	114	198	210
Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	728	693	1,402	1,329
Animal Nutrition [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	796	325	1,404	639
Other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	104	101	185	207
Earnings Before Income Taxes	11	31	25	44
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	(371)	(250)	(667)	(490)
Aggregate Segment [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	645	902	1,256	1,606
Operating Segments [Member] | Origination [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	7,193	7,757	14,168	14,936
Operating Segments [Member] | Oilseeds [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	7,547	8,251	13,956	15,086
Operating Segments [Member] | Carbohydrate Solutions [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	2,878	2,906	5,454	5,718
Operating Segments [Member] | Nutrition [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	1,541	1,029	2,841	1,987
Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	104	101	185	207
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(2,966)	(2,976)	(5,003)	(5,340)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Origination [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(712)	(1,117)	(1,563)	(2,029)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Oilseeds [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(1,800)	(1,589)	(2,795)	(2,822)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Carbohydrate Solutions [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(437)	(259)	(610)	(470)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Nutrition [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(17)	(11)	(35)	(19)
Other (Income) Expense - Net [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	0	0	12	0
Asset impairment, restructuring, and settlement [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	$ (37)	$ (22)	$ (46)	$ (35)