Equity - Consolidated VIE assets and liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		May 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Assets
Cash and equivalents		$ 6,808	$ 5,109
Receivables		4,912	3,759
Inventories		3,369	3,123
Other current assets		147	147
Total current assets		15,499	12,457
Property, plant, and equipment, net		22,705	19,431
Other noncurrent assets		603	450
Total assets		41,845	35,336
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		3,998	3,664
Deferred income		431	408
Current debt		1,454	1,262
Total current liabilities		5,883	5,334
Long-term debt		5,890	9,872
Other noncurrent liabilities		549	639
Total liabilities		12,322	15,845
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | IM Flash Technologies, LLC
Assets
Cash and equivalents	[1]	109	87
Receivables	[1]	86	81
Inventories	[1]	119	128
Other current assets	[1]	6	7
Total current assets	[1]	320	303
Property, plant, and equipment, net	[1]	2,706	1,852
Other noncurrent assets	[1]	46	49
Total assets	[1]	3,072	2,204
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	[1]	200	299
Deferred income	[1]	9	6
Current debt	[1]	20	19
Total current liabilities	[1]	229	324
Long-term debt	[1]	1,029	75
Other noncurrent liabilities	[1]	77	88
Total liabilities	[1]	$ 1,335	$ 487

[1] Amounts exclude intercompany balances that were eliminated in our consolidated balance sheets.