Borrowings - Short-term and long-term borrowings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2019	Nov. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average rate		3.40%		5.30%
Short-term borrowings
Total short-term borrowings	[1]	$ 321		$ 942
Long-term borrowings
Other long-term borrowings		136		107
Total long-term borrowings		6,301		6,285
Total debt		6,622		$ 7,227
Senior Notes | 3.2% Senior Notes due August 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			3.20%	3.20%
Weighted average rate				2.50%
Long-term borrowings
Long-term borrowings		$ 0		$ 523
Senior Notes | 2.773% Senior Notes due December 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		2.773%
Weighted average rate		2.90%		2.90%
Long-term borrowings
Long-term borrowings		$ 1,246		$ 1,245
Senior Notes | 3.337% Senior Notes due December 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		3.337%
Weighted average rate		3.40%		3.40%
Long-term borrowings
Long-term borrowings		$ 1,343		$ 1,343
Senior Notes | 6.875% Notes due January 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		6.875%
Weighted average rate		3.90%		3.90%
Long-term borrowings
Long-term borrowings		$ 289		$ 294
Senior Notes | 3.138% Senior Notes due November 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		3.138%
Weighted average rate		3.20%
Long-term borrowings
Long-term borrowings		$ 522		$ 0
Senior Notes | 5.125% Notes due September 2040
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		5.125%
Weighted average rate		4.20%		4.20%
Long-term borrowings
Long-term borrowings		$ 1,301		$ 1,306
Senior Notes | 4.080% Senior Notes due December 2047
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		4.08%
Weighted average rate		4.10%		4.10%
Long-term borrowings
Long-term borrowings		$ 1,337		$ 1,336
Debentures | 8.55% Debentures due June 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		8.55%
Weighted average rate		4.10%		4.10%
Long-term borrowings
Long-term borrowings		$ 127		$ 131
Short-term borrowings from GE
Short-term borrowings
Short-term borrowings		$ 273		$ 896
Other short-term borrowings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average rate		4.80%		9.90%
Short-term borrowings
Short-term borrowings		$ 48		$ 46

[1] Total assets include $273 million and $896 million of assets held on behalf of GE, of which $162 million and $747 million is cash and cash equivalents and $111 million and $149 million is investment securities at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and a corresponding amount of liability is reported in short-term borrowings. See "Note 17. Related Party Transactions" for further details.