Contingencies (Health Care Cost Recovery - 2003 and subsequent NPM Adjustment Disputes - Continuing Disputes with Non-Signatory States that Have Not Setteled) (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($) state	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement interest expense (income)		$ 9	$ 6	$ 13
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, number of disputes outstanding | state	2
Loss contingency, number of states | state	15
Loss contingency, number of states that did not enforce escrow statutes | state	6
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico and Pennsylvania [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, number of states that did not enforce escrow statutes | state	4
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | Indiana and Kentucky [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of states with settled litigation | state	2
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]
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
RJR-Lorillard-ITG Transaction Case [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for legal settlements, incorrect increase		$ 84
Cost of Sales [Member] | Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, 2003 NPM Adjustment [Member] | Philip Morris USA [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement amount	$ 74