Earnings (Losses) Per Share (Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net earnings (losses) attributable to Altria	$ (952)	$ (2,600)	$ 2,543	$ 516
Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings attributable to share-based awards	(1)	(1)	(6)	(5)
Earnings (losses) for basic and diluted EPS	$ (953)	$ (2,601)	$ 2,537	$ 511
Weighted-average shares for basic and diluted EPS (in shares)	1,858	1,868	1,858	1,871
Plus: contingently issuable performance stock units (in shares)	1	0	1	0
Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS (in shares)	1,859	1,868	1,859	1,871