Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions |
3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan. 02, 2016 |
Oct. 03, 2015 |
Jul. 04, 2015 |
Apr. 04, 2015 |
Jan. 03, 2015 |
Sep. 27, 2014 |
Jun. 28, 2014 |
Mar. 29, 2014 |
Jan. 02, 2016 |
Jan. 03, 2015 |
Dec. 28, 2013 |
|
| Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract] | |||||||||||
| Net sales | $ 1,447 | $ 1,339 | $ 1,410 | $ 1,345 | $ 1,439 | $ 1,372 | $ 1,448 | $ 1,363 | $ 5,541 | $ 5,622 | $ 5,501 |
| Gross profit | 946 | 914 | 986 | 950 | 1,014 | 960 | 1,015 | 980 | 3,796 | 3,969 | 3,927 |
| Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. | $ 113 | $ 215 | $ 290 | $ 262 | $ 245 | $ 238 | $ 270 | $ 249 | $ 880 | $ 1,002 | $ 723 |
| Basic net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (USD per share) | $ 0.40 | $ 0.76 | $ 1.03 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.86 | $ 0.83 | $ 0.95 | $ 0.88 | $ 3.11 | $ 3.52 | $ 2.52 |
| Diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (USD per share) | $ 0.39 | $ 0.75 | $ 1.02 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.84 | $ 0.82 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.86 | $ 3.07 | $ 3.46 | $ 2.49 |