Fair Values - Difference Between Contractual Principal and Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Loans and other debt	$ 13,154	$ 13,094
Nonaccrual loans	10,919	10,831
Borrowings	$ (986)	$ 2,657

This item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of debt instruments that have contractual principal amounts and for which the fair value option has been elected.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ms_FairValueOptionAggregateDifferencesDebt
Namespace Prefix:	ms_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans and long-term receivables (other than securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity) that have contractual principal amounts and for which the fair value option has been elected.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75031198&loc=d3e14064-108612

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueOptionAggregateDifferencesLoansAndLongTermReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For loans held as assets for which the fair value option has been elected, this item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of those loans that are 90 days or more past due, in nonaccrual status, or both.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (e)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75031198&loc=d3e14064-108612

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant