Consolidated Statements of Changes in Total Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions		Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings		Employee Stock Trusts	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Common Stock Held In Treasury at Cost	Common Stock Issued to Employee Stock Trusts	Non-Controlling Interests
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017					$ 23,545	$ 57,577		$ 2,907	$ (3,060)	$ (9,211)	$ (2,907)	$ 1,075
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based award activity					119			(110)		759	110
Net income applicable to Morgan Stanley		$ 7,217				7,217
Preferred stock dividends		(356)				(356)	[1]
Common stock dividends	[1]					(1,414)
Repurchases of common stock and employee tax withholdings										(4,380)
Net income applicable to noncontrolling interests		108										108
Net change in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(498)							(502)			4
Other net increases (decreases)					0							184
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2018		80,074	$ 8,520	$ 20	23,664	63,330		2,797	(3,999)	(12,832)	(2,797)	1,371
Balance at beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2018					23,454	61,835		2,829	(3,070)	(11,650)	(2,829)	1,397
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based award activity					210			(32)		25	32
Net income applicable to Morgan Stanley		2,112				2,112
Preferred stock dividends		(93)				(93)	[1]
Common stock dividends	[1]					(524)
Repurchases of common stock and employee tax withholdings										(1,207)
Net income applicable to noncontrolling interests		42										42
Net change in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(988)							(929)			(59)
Other net increases (decreases)					0							(9)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2018		80,074	8,520	20	23,664	63,330		2,797	(3,999)	(12,832)	(2,797)	1,371
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		81,406			23,794	64,175		2,836	(2,292)	(13,971)	(2,836)	1,160
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based award activity					(154)			29		1,138	(29)
Net income applicable to Morgan Stanley		6,803				6,803
Preferred stock dividends		(376)				(376)	[1]
Common stock dividends	[1]					(1,594)
Repurchases of common stock and employee tax withholdings										(4,447)
Net income applicable to noncontrolling interests		129										129
Net change in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		674							694			(20)
Other net increases (decreases)					9							(101)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2019		83,550	8,520	20	23,649	69,071		2,865	(1,598)	(17,280)	(2,865)	1,168
Balance at beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2019					23,446	67,588		2,889	(2,051)	(15,799)	(2,889)	1,121
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based award activity					196			(24)		57	24
Net income applicable to Morgan Stanley		2,173				2,173
Preferred stock dividends		(113)				(113)	[1]
Common stock dividends	[1]					(577)
Repurchases of common stock and employee tax withholdings										(1,538)
Net income applicable to noncontrolling interests		45										45
Net change in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		455							453			2
Other net increases (decreases)					7							0
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2019		$ 83,550	$ 8,520	$ 20	$ 23,649	$ 69,071		$ 2,865	$ (1,598)	$ (17,280)	$ (2,865)	$ 1,168

[1] See Note 14 for information regarding dividends per share for common stock and each class of preferred stock.