Contingencies (2003 and Subsequent NPM Adjustment Disputes - Continuing Disputes with Non-Signatory States other than New York) (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($) state	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($) state	Nov. 30, 1998 state	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) state panel	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 state	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) plantiff	Dec. 31, 2003 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2014 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount						$ (1,200)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					$ 2,091	1,883
All Non-Signatory States Excluding New York, Montana and New Mexico [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Non-signatory states, excluding New York, Montana and New Mexico | state					19
RJR-Lorillard-ITG Transaction Case [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for Legal Settlements, Incorrect Increase					$ 84							$ 84
Florida State Settlement Agreement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for Legal Settlements, Incorrect Increase					28
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount					(1,100)
Number of states with settled litigation | state				46
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount					(702)
Number of states with settled litigation | plantiff												24
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Settlement agreement, liability reduction percentage													20.00%
Loss contingency, number of states | state			15
Number of states that did not diligently enforcing escrow statutes | state			6
Number of states diligently enforcing escrow statute | state			9
Litigation settlement, amount													$ (145)
Estimate of possible interest income			$ 89
Estimate of possible gain, not recorded										$ 25
Litigation settlement interest expense (income)										$ (64)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Indiana and Kentucky [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of states with settled litigation | state									2
Litigation settlement interest expense (income)											$ (17)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico and Pennsylvania [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of states that did not diligently enforcing escrow statutes | state		4
Estimate of possible interest income								$ 66
Litigation settlement interest expense (income)	$ (48)	$ (66)						$ (47)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | PENNSYLVANIA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement interest expense (income)							$ 13
Earnings (loss) before income taxes							$ 42
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | MARYLAND [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible loss															$ 12
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | MISSOURI [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible interest loss																$ 7
Amount of possible loss																12
Appeal bond posted																$ 22
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | NEW MEXICO [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible interest loss														$ 2
Amount of possible loss														$ 3
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount											(145)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | Indiana and Kentucky [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount											$ (37)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico and Pennsylvania [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount	$ (79)	$ (108)
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | PENNSYLVANIA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount						$ 29
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2004-2015 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible interest loss															$ 7
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2004 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain					$ 388
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2005 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of arbitration panels | panel					2
Estimate of possible gain					$ 181
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2006 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain					154
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2007 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain					185
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2008 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain					250
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2009 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain					211
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2010 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain					218
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2011 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain					166
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2012 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain					214
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2013 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain					223
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2014 NPM Adjustment [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain					246
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2015 NPM Adjustments [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain					292
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2016 NPM Adjustments [Member] [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible gain					$ 296