Segment Reporting (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Revenue	$ 6,242	$ 6,242	$ 6,487	$ 5,647	$ 6,129	$ 6,108	$ 5,920	$ 5,643	$ 24,618	$ 23,800	$ 24,363
Financial services assets lease receivables increase (decrease) to allowance						(35)			(10)	25
Reduction to cumulative lease earnings	0	0	7	0	0	0	490	0	7	490
Pre-tax tobacco and health judgments									4	98	16
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, Period Increase (Decrease)									(10)	25	0
Pretax Tobacco and Health charges									1	64	5
PM USA Middleton UST [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Contribution Of Net Revenues By Major Customer Percentage									27.00%	27.00%	27.00%
Smokeable Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax tobacco and health judgments									4	98	11
Wine [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of distributors comprising net revenue									3	3	3
Sales percentage of net revenue									66.00%	66.00%	65.00%
Financial Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Recoveries from sale of bankruptcy claims and aircraft									34
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, Period Increase (Decrease)									(10)	25
Smokeless Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax tobacco and health judgments									0	0	5
Settlement [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax tobacco and health judgments											5
Cigars [Member] | Smokeable Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Revenue									601	567	560
Cigarettes [Member] | Smokeable Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Revenue									$ 21,615	$ 21,403	$ 21,631