Walgreen (WAG) 10-K20 Oct 142014 FY Annual reportFinancial data

Company Profile

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Billions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'WALGREEN CO	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000104207	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--08-31	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'Yes	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Public Float	'	$59.80
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	950,386,889	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'
Document Type	'10-K	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	31-Aug-14	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ear

Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net	$76,392	$72,217	$71,633
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	54,823	51,098	51,291
Gross Profit	21,569	21,119	20,342
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	17,992	17,543	16,878
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investment	617	344	0
Gain on sale of business	0	20	0
Operating Income (Loss)	4,194	3,940	3,464
Interest Expense	-156	-165	-88
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	-481	120	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	3,557	3,895	3,376
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	1,526	1,445	1,249
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,031	2,450	2,127
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	-99	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$1,932	$2,450	$2,127
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$2.03	$2.59	$2.43
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$2	$2.56	$2.42
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted	953.1	946	874.7
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment	12.1	9.2	5.4
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	965.2	955.2	880.1

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$2,031	$2,450	$2,127
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	-48	-5	52
Changes in unrecognized gain on available-for-sale investments	106	1	0
Cash Flow Hedges Derivative Instruments at Fair Value, Net	-27	0	0
Share of other comprehensive loss of Alliance Boots	-41	-59	0
Cumulative translation adjustments	286	-103	0
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	276	-166	52
Total Comprehensive Income	2,307	2,284	2,179
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	-99	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Walgreen Co.	$2,208	$2,284	$2,179

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sha

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Pain-In Capital [Member]	Employee Stock Loan Receivable [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock Amount [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
In Millions, except Share data	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Pain-In Capital [Member]	Employee Stock Loan Receivable [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock Amount [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning Balance at Aug. 31, 2011	$14,847	$80	$834	($34)	$18,877	$16	($4,926)	$0
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2011	'	889,294,130	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,127	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings	2,127	0	0	0	2,127	0	0	0
Dividends declared	-848	0	0	0	-848	0	0	0
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)	'	-34,720,215	'	'	'	'	'	'
Treasury stock purchases	-1,191	0	0	0	0	0	-1,191	0
Employee stock purchase and option plans (in shares)	'	6,088,749	'	'	'	'	'	'
Employee stock purchase and option plans	154	0	-75	0	0	0	229	0
Stock-based compensation	99	0	99	0	0	0	0	0
Employee stock loan receivable	15	0	0	15	0	0	0	0
Cumulative translation adjustments	0	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share of other comprehensive loss of Alliance Boots	0	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Unrecognized gain on available-for-sale investments	0	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Change in postretirement liability, net of tax	52	0	0	0	0	52	0	0
Shares issued for Investment in Alliance Boots (in shares)	'	83,392,670	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares issued for Investment in Alliance Boots (in dollars)	2,981	0	78	0	0	0	2,903	0
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2012	18,236	80	936	-19	20,156	68	-2,985	0
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2012	'	944,055,334	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,450	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings	2,450	0	0	0	2,450	0	0	0
Dividends declared	-1,083	0	0	0	-1,083	0	0	0
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)	'	-13,797,490	'	'	'	'	'	'
Treasury stock purchases	-615	0	0	0	0	0	-615	0
Employee stock purchase and option plans (in shares)	'	16,337,734	'	'	'	'	'	'
Employee stock purchase and option plans	520	0	34	0	0	0	486	0
Stock-based compensation	104	'	104	0	0	0	0	0
Employee stock loan receivable	8	0	0	8	0	0	0	0
Cumulative translation adjustments	-103	0	0	0	0	-103	0	0
Share of other comprehensive loss of Alliance Boots	-59	0	0	0	0	-59	0	0
Unrecognized gain on available-for-sale investments	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Change in postretirement liability, net of tax	-5	'	'	'	0	-5	'	0
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2013	19,454	80	1,074	-11	21,523	-98	-3,114	0
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2013	'	946,595,578	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,031	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings	1,932	0	0	0	1,932	0	0	99
Dividends declared	-1,226	0	0	0	-1,226	0	0	0
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)	'	-11,810,351	'	'	'	'	'	'
Treasury stock purchases	-705	0	0	0	0	0	-705	0
Employee stock purchase and option plans (in shares)	'	15,601,662	'	'	'	'	'	'
Employee stock purchase and option plans	606	0	-16	0	0	0	622	0
Other	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	5
Stock-based compensation	114	0	114	0	0	0	0	0
Employee stock loan receivable	6	0	0	6	0	0	0	0
Cumulative translation adjustments	286	0	0	0	0	286	0	0
Share of other comprehensive loss of Alliance Boots	-41	0	0	0	0	-41	0	0
Unrecognized gain on available-for-sale investments	106	0	0	0	0	106	0	0
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow Hedging Instruments	-27	0	0	0	0	-27	0	0
Change in postretirement liability, net of tax	-48	0	0	0	0	-48	0	0
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2014	$20,561	$80	$1,172	($5)	$22,229	$178	($3,197)	$104
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2014	'	950,386,889	'	'	'	'	'	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sha1

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]	'	'	'
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$1.28	$1.14	$0.95
Postretirement liability tax (expense) benefit	$29	$3	($32)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Tax	-63	'	'
Tax Benefit On Unrealized Loss on Cash Flow Hedge	17	'	'
Currency translation, tax (expense) benefit	-154	55	'
Share of comprehensive loss in Alliance Boots, tax benefit	$22	$32	'

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Current Assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$2,646	$2,106
Accounts receivable, net	3,218	2,632
Inventories	6,076	6,852
Other current assets	302	284
Total Current Assets	12,242	11,874
Non-Current Assets	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization	12,257	12,138
Equity investment in Alliance Boots	7,248	6,261
Alliance Boots call option	0	839
Goodwill	2,359	2,410
Other non-current assets	3,076	1,959
Total Non-Current Assets	24,940	23,607
Total Assets	37,182	35,481
Current Liabilities	'	'
Short-term borrowings	774	570
Trade accounts payable	4,315	4,635
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	3,701	3,577
Income taxes	105	101
Total Current Liabilities	8,895	8,883
Non-Current Liabilities	'	'
Long-term debt	3,736	4,477
Deferred income taxes	1,048	600
Other non-current liabilities	2,942	2,067
Total Non-Current Liabilities	7,726	7,144
Equity	'	'
Preferred stock, $.0625 par value; authorized 32 million shares; none issued	0	0
Common stock, $.078125 par value; authorized 3.2 billion shares; issued and outstanding 1,028,180,150 shares in 2014 and 2013	80	80
Paid-in capital	1,172	1,074
Employee stock loan receivable	-5	-11
Retained earnings	22,229	21,523
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	178	-98
Treasury stock at cost, 77,793,261 shares in 2014 and 81,584,572 shares in 2013	-3,197	-3,114
Equity Attributable to Parent	20,457	19,454
Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	104	0
Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	20,561	19,454
Total Liabilities and Equity	$37,182	$35,481

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Shareholders' Equity	'	'
Preferred stock, par value	$0.06	$0.06
Preferred stock, authorized	32,000,000	32,000,000
Common stock, par value	$0.08	$0.08
Common stock, authorized	3,200,000,000	3,200,000,000
Common stock, issued	1,028,180,150	1,028,180,150
Treasury stock, issued	77,793,261	81,584,572

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities	'	'	'
Net earnings	$2,031	$2,450	$2,127
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities -	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	1,316	1,283	1,166
Change in fair value of warrants and related amortization	-385	-120	0
Loss on exercise of call option	866	0	0
Deferred income taxes	177	148	265
Equity earnings in Alliance Boots	-617	-344	0
Stock compensation expense	114	104	99
Other	181	113	43
Changes in operating assets and liabilities -	'	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	-616	-449	394
Inventories	860	321	1,083
Other current assets	-10	18	-4
Trade accounts payable	-339	182	-439
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	195	424	-184
Income taxes	17	103	-228
Other non-current assets and liabilities	103	68	109
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,893	4,301	4,431
Cash Flows from Investing Activities	'	'	'
Additions to property and equipment	-1,106	-1,212	-1,550
Return of restricted cash	0	0	191
Proceeds from sale of assets	206	145	123
Business and intangible asset acquisitions, net of cash received	-344	-630	-491
Purchases of short term investments held to maturity	-59	-66	0
Proceeds from short term investments held to maturity	58	16	0
Proceeds (payments) from sale of business	93	20	-45
Investment in AmerisourceBergen	-493	-224	0
Investment in Alliance Boots	0	0	-4,025
Other	-86	-45	-63
Net cash used for investing activities	-1,731	-1,996	-5,860
Cash Flows from Financing Activities	'	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	0	4,000	3,000
Payments of long-term debt	-550	-4,300	0
Proceeds from Financing Lease Arrangements	268	0	0
Stock purchases	-705	-615	-1,191
Proceeds related to employee stock plans	612	486	165
Cash dividends paid	-1,199	-1,040	-787
Other	-48	-27	-17
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	-1,622	-1,496	1,170
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	540	809	-259
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	2,106	1,297	1,556
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$2,646	$2,106	$1,297

Summary_of_Major_Accounting_Po

Summary of Major Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2014

Summary of Major Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of major accounting policies

-1

Summary of Major Accounting Policies

Description of Business

The Company is principally in the retail drugstore business and its operations are within one reportable segment. At August 31, 2014, there were 8,309 drugstore and other locations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. Prescription sales were 64.2% of total sales for fiscal 2014 compared to 62.9% in 2013 and 63.2% in 2012.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include amounts based on management's prudent judgments and estimates. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The Company's 45% proportionate share of earnings in the Alliance Boots GmbH (Alliance Boots) equity method investment is included in consolidated net earnings. The Company reports its share of equity earnings in Alliance Boots within the operating section in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings because operations of Alliance Boots are integral to Walgreens. The companies share common board of director members, recognize purchasing synergies through Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH, a 50/50 joint venture, as well as engage in intercompany sales transactions on select front-end merchandise. Because of the three-month lag and the timing of the closing of this investment, only the ten months of August through May's results of operations are reflected in the equity earnings in Alliance Boots included in the Company's reported net earnings for year ended August 31, 2013 compared to twelve months operating results for June through May in the current fiscal year.

The Company directly owns a 50% interest in Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH and indirectly owns an additional ownership interest through its 45% ownership in Alliance Boots, representing a direct and indirect economic interest of 72.5%. The financial results of the Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH joint venture are fully consolidated into the Company's consolidated financial statements and reported without a lag. As the joint venture is included within the Company's operating results, Alliance Boots proportionate share of Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH earnings is removed from equity earnings and presented as a component of noncontrolling interests.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Credit and debit card receivables from banks, which generally settle within two business days, of $229 million and $160 million were included in cash and cash equivalents at August 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At August 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had $1.9 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively, in money market funds, all of which was included in cash and cash equivalents.

The Company's cash management policy provides for controlled disbursement. As a result, the Company had outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit at certain banks. These amounts, which were $267 million at August 31, 2014, and $274 million at August 31, 2013, are included in trade accounts payable in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The provision for bad debt is based on both historical write-off percentages and specifically identified receivables. Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts was as follows (in millions):

2014

2013

2012

Balance at beginning of year

154

101

Bad debt provision

124

107

Write-offs

(67

)

(69

)

(109

)

Balance at end of year

173

154

Inventories

Inventories are valued on a lower of last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost or market basis. At August 31, 2014 and 2013, inventories would have been greater by $2.3 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively, if they had been valued on a lower of first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost or market basis. As a result of declining inventory levels, the fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 LIFO provisions were reduced by LIFO liquidations of $187 million, $194 million and $268 million, respectively. Inventory includes product costs, inbound freight, warehousing costs and vendor allowances not classified as a reduction of advertising expense.

Equity Method Investments

The Company uses the equity method to account for investments in companies if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over operating and financial policies of the investee. The Company's proportionate share of the net income or loss of these companies is included in consolidated net earnings. Judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investment includes considering key factors such as the Company's ownership interest, representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making decisions and material intercompany transactions.

The Company purchases inventory from Alliance Boots in the ordinary course of business. These related party inventory purchases, which began in fiscal 2013, were not material in fiscal 2014 or 2013.

The underlying net assets of the Company's equity method investment in Alliance Boots include goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. These assets are evaluated for impairment annually or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. Based on the Company's evaluation as of August 31, 2014, the fair value of one Alliance Boots pharmaceutical wholesale reporting unit did not exceed its carrying amount by a significant amount. Goodwill allocated to this reporting unit by Alliance Boots as of May 31, 2014 was £255 million, £115 million based on the Company's 45% ownership percentage (approximately $193 million using May 31, 2014 exchange rates). The Company utilizes a three-month lag in reporting its share of equity income in Alliance Boots, including this reporting unit. The Company will continue to monitor this reporting unit in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other.

Property and Equipment

Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of owned assets. Leasehold improvements and leased properties under capital leases are amortized over the estimated useful life of the property or over the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. Estimated useful lives range from 10 to 39 years for land improvements, buildings and building improvements; and 2 to 13 years for equipment. Major repairs, which extend the useful life of an asset, are capitalized; routine maintenance and repairs are charged against earnings. The majority of the business uses the composite method of depreciation for equipment. Therefore, gains and losses on retirement or other disposition of such assets are included in earnings only when an operating location is closed, completely remodeled or impaired. Fully depreciated property and equipment are removed from the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization accounts. Property and equipment consists of (in millions):

2014

2013

Land and land improvements

Owned locations

3,059

3,203

Distribution centers

Other locations

266

219

Buildings and building improvements

Owned locations

3,927

3,805

Leased locations (leasehold improvements only)

2,041

1,811

Distribution centers

582

620

Other locations

351

Equipment

Locations

5,454

5,334

Distribution centers

1,170

1,190

Other locations

935

755

Capitalized system development costs

688

581

Capital lease properties

530

215

19,096

18,181

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

6,839

6,043

12,257

12,138

Depreciation expense for property and equipment was $923 million in fiscal 2014, $894 million in fiscal 2013 and $841 million in fiscal 2012.

The Company capitalizes application stage development costs for significant internally developed software projects, such as upgrades to the store point-of-sale system. These costs are amortized over a five-year period. Amortization expense was $111 million in fiscal 2014, $100 million in fiscal 2013 and $70 million in fiscal 2012. Unamortized costs at August 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013, were $410 million and $374 million, respectively.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company accounts for goodwill and intangibles under ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, which does not permit amortization, but requires the Company to test goodwill and other indefinite-lived assets for impairment annually or whenever events or circumstances indicate impairment may exist.

Impaired Assets and Liabilities for Store Closings

The Company tests long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that a certain asset may be impaired. Store locations that have been open at least five years are reviewed for impairment indicators at least annually. Once identified, the amount of the impairment is computed by comparing the carrying value of the assets to the fair value, which is based on the discounted estimated future cash flows. Impairment charges included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $167 million in fiscal 2014, primarily resulting from the Company's store optimization plan. Impairment charges recognized in fiscal 2013 and 2012 were $30 million and $27 million respectively.

The Company also provides for future costs related to closed locations. The liability is based on the present value of future rent obligations and other related costs (net of estimated sublease rent) to the first lease option date. The reserve for store closings including $137 million from locations closed under the Company's optimization plan, was $257 million as of August 31, 2014 compared to $123 million as of August 31 2013. See Note 2 for additional disclosure regarding the Company's reserve for future costs related to closed locations.

Financial Instruments

The Company had $151 million and $197 million of outstanding letters of credit at August 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which guarantee the purchase of foreign goods, and additional outstanding letters of credit of $259 million and $263 million at August 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which guarantee payments of insurance claims. The insurance claim letters of credit are annually renewable and will remain in place until the insurance claims are paid in full. Letters of credit of $9 million and $4 million were outstanding at August 31, 2014, and August 31, 2013, respectively, to guarantee performance of construction contracts. The Company pays a facility fee to the financing bank to keep these letters of credit active. The Company had real estate development purchase commitments of $169 million and $185 million at August 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage its interest rate exposure associated with some of its fixed-rate borrowings. At August 31, 2014, the Company had $1 billion of fixed-rate debt swapped to floating designated as fair value hedges. The Company also manages its interest rate exposure associated with its anticipated debt issuance. In fiscal 2014, the Company entered into a series of forward starting interest rate swap transactions locking in the then current three-month LIBOR interest rate on $1.5 billion of anticipated debt issuance. These forward starting swap transactions are designated as cash flow hedges. The Company's fair value and cash flow hedges are accounted for according to ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and measured at fair value in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures. See Notes 10 and 11 for additional disclosure regarding financial instruments.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue at the time the customer takes possession of the merchandise. Customer returns are immaterial. Sales taxes are not included in revenue.

Gift Cards

The Company sells Walgreens gift cards to retail store customers and through its website. The Company does not charge administrative fees on unused gift cards and most gift cards do not have an expiration date. Income from gift cards is recognized when (1) the gift card is redeemed by the customer; or (2) the likelihood of the gift card being redeemed by the customer is remote (gift card breakage) and there is no legal obligation to remit the value of unredeemed gift cards to the relevant jurisdictions. The Company's gift card breakage rate is determined based upon historical redemption patterns. Gift card breakage income, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses, was not significant in fiscal 2014, 2013 or 2012.

Loyalty Program

The Company's rewards program, Balance® Rewards, is accrued as a charge to cost of sales at the time a point is earned. Points are funded internally and through vendor participation, and are credited to cost of sales at the time a vendor-sponsored point is earned. Breakage is recorded as points expire as a result of a member's inactivity or if the points remain unredeemed after three years. Breakage income, which is reported in cost of sales, was not significant in fiscal 2014 or 2013.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales is derived based upon point-of-sale scanning information with an estimate for shrinkage and is adjusted based on periodic inventories. In addition to product costs, cost of sales includes warehousing costs, purchasing costs, freight costs, cash discounts and vendor allowances.

Vendor Allowances

Vendor allowances are principally received as a result of purchases, sales or promotion of vendors' products. Allowances are generally recorded as a reduction of inventory and are recognized as a reduction of cost of sales when the related merchandise is sold. Those allowances received for promoting vendors' products are offset against advertising expense and result in a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses to the extent of advertising costs incurred, with the excess treated as a reduction of inventory costs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses mainly consist of store salaries, occupancy costs, and expenses directly related to stores. In addition, other costs included are headquarters' expenses, advertising costs (net of advertising revenue) and insurance.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs, which are reduced by the portion funded by vendors, are expensed as incurred. Net advertising expenses, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, were $265 million in fiscal 2014, $286 million in fiscal 2013 and $291 million in fiscal 2012. Included in net advertising expenses were vendor advertising allowances of $256 million in fiscal 2014, $240 million in fiscal 2013 and $239 million in fiscal 2012.

Insurance

The Company obtains insurance coverage for catastrophic exposures as well as those risks required by law to be insured. It is the Company's policy to retain a significant portion of certain losses related to workers' compensation, property, comprehensive general, pharmacist and vehicle liability. Liabilities for these losses are recorded based upon the Company's estimates for claims incurred and are not discounted. The provisions are estimated in part by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors and other actuarial assumptions.

Available-for-Sale Investments

The Company, Alliance Boots and AmerisourceBergen Corporation (AmerisourceBergen) entered into a Framework Agreement dated as of March 18, 2013, pursuant to which Walgreens and Alliance Boots together were granted the right to purchase a minority equity position in AmerisourceBergen, beginning with the right, but not the obligation, to purchase up to 19,859,795 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock (approximately 7 percent of the then fully diluted equity of AmerisourceBergen, assuming the exercise in full of the warrants described below) in open market transactions. As of August 31, 2014, the Company held 11.5 million shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock which are classified as available-for-sale. See Note 6 for additional disclosure regarding the Company's available-for-sale investments.

Warrants

The Company and Alliance Boots were each issued (a) a warrant to purchase shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock exercisable during a six-month period beginning in March 2016, and (b) a warrant to purchase shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock exercisable during a six-month period beginning in March 2017. The Company's warrants are valued at the date of issuance and the end of the period using a Monte Carlo simulation. Key assumptions used in the valuation include risk-free interest rates using constant maturity treasury rates; the dividend yield for AmerisourceBergen's common stock; AmerisourceBergen's common stock price at the valuation date; AmerisourceBergen's equity volatility; the number of shares of AmerisourceBergen's common stock outstanding; the number of employee stock options and the exercise price; and the details specific to the warrants. The fair value of the Company's warrants on March 18, 2013, the date of issuance, was $77 million. The Company recorded the fair value of its warrants as a non-current asset with a corresponding deferred credit in its Consolidated Balance Sheets. The deferred credit attributable to the warrants will be amortized over the life of the warrants. The fair value of the Company's warrants at August 31, 2014 and 2013 was $553 million and $188 million, respectively, resulting in the Company recording other income of $366 million and $111 million within its Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The increase in the fair value of the warrants was primarily attributable to the increase in the price of AmerisourceBergen's common stock. In addition, the Company recorded $19 million and $9 million in fiscal 2014 and 2013, respectively, of other income relating to the amortization of the deferred credit. See Note 10 for additional disclosure regarding the Company's warrants.

Pre-Opening Expenses

Non-capital expenditures incurred prior to the opening of a new or remodeled store are expensed as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

In accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, the Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the employee's vesting period or to the employee's retirement eligible date, if earlier. Total stock-based compensation expense for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $114 million, $104 million and $99 million, respectively. The recognized tax benefit was $31 million, $30 million and $9 million for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested awards at August 31, 2014, was $188 million. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average of three years. See Note 14 for more information on the Company's stock-based compensation plans. See Note 14 for more information on the Company's stock-based compensation plans.

Interest Expense

The Company capitalized $6 million, $7 million and $9 million of interest expense as part of significant construction projects during fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Interest paid, which is net of capitalized interest, was $161 million in fiscal 2014, $158 million in fiscal 2013 and $108 million in fiscal 2012.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes according to the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based upon the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured pursuant to tax laws using rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not to be realized.

In determining the Company's provision for income taxes, an annual effective income tax rate based on full-year income, permanent differences between book and tax income, and statutory income tax rates are used. The effective income tax rate also reflects the Company's assessment of the ultimate outcome of tax audits in addition to any foreign-based income deemed to be taxable in the United States. Discrete events such as audit settlements or changes in tax laws are recognized in the period in which they occur.

The Company is subject to routine income tax audits that occur periodically in the normal course of business. U.S. federal, state and local and foreign tax authorities raise questions regarding the Company's tax filing positions, including the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. In evaluating the tax benefits associated with its various tax filing positions, the Company records a tax benefit for uncertain tax positions using the highest cumulative tax benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. Adjustments are made to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the period in which the Company determines the issue is effectively settled with the tax authorities, the statute of limitations expires for the return containing the tax position or when more information becomes available. The Company's liability for unrecognized tax benefits, including accrued penalties and interest, is included in other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and in income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Earnings Per Share

The dilutive effect of outstanding stock options on earnings per share is calculated using the treasury stock method. Stock options are anti-dilutive and excluded from the earnings per share calculation if the exercise price exceeds the average market price of the common shares. Outstanding options to purchase common shares that were anti-dilutive and excluded from earnings per share totaled 3,510,395, 12,316,949 and 32,593,870 in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as a new Topic, ASC Topic 606. The new revenue recognition standard provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 (fiscal 2018) and shall be applied retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance, but does not expect adoption will have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. This ASU raises the threshold for a disposal to qualify as discontinued operations and requires new disclosures for individually material disposal transactions that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. Under the new standard, companies report discontinued operations when they have a disposal that represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major impact on operations or financial results. This update will be applied prospectively and is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014 (fiscal 2016). Early adoption is permitted provided the disposal was not previously disclosed. This update will not have a material impact on the Company's reported results of operations and financial position. This ASU is non-cash in nature and will not affect the Company's cash position.

In May 2013, the FASB reissued an exposure draft on lease accounting that would require entities to recognize assets and liabilities arising from lease contracts on the balance sheet. The proposed exposure draft states that lessees and lessors should apply a "right-of-use model" in accounting for all leases. Under the proposed model, lessees would recognize an asset for the right to use the leased asset, and a liability for the obligation to make rental payments over the lease term. When measuring the asset and liability, variable lease payments are excluded, whereas renewal options that provide a significant economic incentive upon renewal would be included. The accounting by a lessor would reflect its retained exposure to the risks or benefits of the underlying leased asset. A lessor would recognize an asset representing its right to receive lease payments based on the expected term of the lease. The lease expense from real estate based leases would continue to be recorded under a straight-line approach, but other leases not related to real estate would be expensed using an effective interest method that would accelerate lease expense. A final standard is currently expected to be issued in calendar 2014 and would be effective no earlier than annual reporting periods beginning on January 1, 2017 (fiscal 2018 for the Company). The proposed standard, as currently drafted, would have a material impact on the Company's financial position and the impact on the Company's reported results of operations is being evaluated. The impact of this exposure draft is non-cash in nature and would not affect the Company's cash position.

Restructuring

Restructuring	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014
Restructuring [Abstract]	'
Restructuring	'
	-2	Store Closures

	In March 2014, the Board of Directors approved a plan to close underperforming stores in efforts to optimize and focus resources in a manner intended to increase shareholder value. Total pre-tax charges associated with the plan are estimated to be between $240 million and $280 million. In fiscal 2014, the Company incurred pre-tax charges of $209 million as a result of closing 67 stores; $137 million from lease termination costs, $71 million from asset impairment charges and $1 million of other charges.

Leases

Leases	12 Months Ended
Leases	Aug. 31, 2014
Leases [Abstract]	'
Leases	'
	-3	Leases

	The Company owns approximately 20% of its operating locations; the remaining locations are leased premises. Initial terms are typically 20 to 25 years, followed by additional terms containing renewal options at five-year intervals, and may include rent escalation clauses. The commencement date of all lease terms is the earlier of the date the Company becomes legally obligated to make rent payments or the date the Company has the right to control the property. The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. In addition to minimum fixed rentals, some leases provide for contingent rentals based upon a portion of sales.

	The Company continuously evaluates its real estate portfolio in conjunction with its capital needs. In fiscal 2014, the Company entered into several sale-leaseback transactions. In some of these transactions, the Company negotiated fixed rate renewal options which constitute a form of continuing involvement, resulting in the assets remaining on the balance sheet and a corresponding finance lease obligation.

	Minimum rental commitments at August 31, 2014, under all leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable term of more than one year are shown below (in millions):

			Financing Obligation			Capital Lease			Operating Lease
	2015		$	18		$	43		$	2,569
	2016			18			41			2,533
	2017			18			39			2,493
	2018			18			38			2,407
	2019			18			38			2,295
	Later			1,328			665			22,168
	Total minimum lease payments		$	1,418		$	864		$	34,465

	The capital and finance lease amounts include $1.5 billion of imputed interest and executory costs. Total minimum lease payments have not been reduced by minimum sublease rentals of approximately $141 million on leases due in the future under non-cancelable subleases.

	The Company provides for future costs related to closed locations. The liability is based on the present value of future rent obligations and other related costs (net of estimated sublease rent) to the first lease option date. In fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded charges of $177 million, $43 million and $20 million, respectively, for facilities that were closed or relocated under long-term leases, including stores closed through the Company's store optimization plan. These charges are reported in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

	The changes in reserve for facility closings and related lease termination charges include the following (in millions):

			Year Ended
			August 31,
			2014			2013
	Balance – beginning of period		$	123		$	117
	Provision for present value of non-cancellable lease payments of closed facilities			171			34
	Assumptions about future sublease income, terminations and changes in interest rates			(8	)		(6	)
	Interest accretion			14			15
	Cash payments, net of sublease income			(43	)		(37	)
	Balance – end of period		$	257		$	123

	The Company remains secondarily liable on 20 assigned leases. The maximum potential undiscounted future payments are $33 million at August 31, 2014. Lease option dates vary, with some extending to 2041.

	Rental expense, which includes common area maintenance, insurance and taxes, was as follows (in millions):

			2014			2013			2012
	Minimum rentals		$	2,687		$	2,644		$	2,585
	Contingent rentals			5			6			6
	Less: Sublease rental income			(22	)		(22	)		(20	)
			$	2,670		$	2,628		$	2,571

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'
Acquisitions	'
	-4	Acquisitions and Divestitures

	In June 2014, the Company completed the sale of a majority interest in its subsidiary, Take Care Employer Solutions, LLC (Take Care Employer) to Water Street Healthcare Partners (Water Street). At the same time, Water Street made an investment in CHS Health Services (CHS), an unrelated entity and merged CHS with Take Care Employer to create a leading worksite health company dedicated to improving the cost and quality of employee health care. Water Street owns a majority interest in the new company while Walgreens owns a significant minority interest and has representatives on the new company's board of directors. The value of the investment at August 31, 2014 was $67 million. The Company recognized an immaterial gain on the transaction.

	In November 2013, the Company completed its acquisition of certain assets of Kerr Drug and its affiliates for $173 million, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. This acquisition included 76 retail locations as well as a specialty pharmacy business and a distribution center. The preliminary purchase accounting for the Kerr Drug acquisition added $45 million to goodwill and $54 million to intangible assets, primarily prescription files and payer contracts, with $74 million allocated to net tangible assets. This allocation is subject to change as the Company finalizes purchase accounting.

	The aggregate purchase price of all business and intangible asset acquisitions, excluding Kerr Drug, was $171 million in fiscal 2014. These acquisitions added $13 million to goodwill and $119 million to intangible assets, primarily prescription files. The remaining fair value relates to immaterial amounts of tangible assets, less liabilities assumed. Operating results of businesses acquired have been included in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings from their respective acquisition dates forward and were not material.

	In fiscal 2013, the Company acquired Stephen L. LaFrance Holdings, Inc. (USA Drug) for $436 million net of assumed cash. This acquisition increased the Company's presence in the mid-South region of the country. The purchase price allocation for this acquisition added $220 million to goodwill and $156 million to intangible assets, primarily prescription files and non-compete agreements, with $60 million allocated to net tangible assets, primarily inventory. The Company also acquired an 80% interest in Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Pharmacy LLC for $29 million net of assumed cash and a call option to acquire the remaining 20% interest in 2015. The investment provides joint ownership in a specialty pharmacy for cystic fibrosis patients and their families and a provider of new product launch support and call center services for drug manufacturers. The investment added $16 million to goodwill and $21 million to intangible assets, primarily payer contracts.

Equity_Method_Investments

Equity Method Investments	12 Months Ended
Equity Method Investments	Aug. 31, 2014
Equity Method Investments [Abstract]	'
Equity Method Investments [Text Block]	'
	-5	Equity Method Investments

	Equity method investments as of August 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows (in millions, except percentages):

		2014						2013
		Carrying			Ownership			Carrying			Ownership
		Value			Percentage			Value			Percentage
	Alliance Boots		$	7,248		45	%		$	6,261		45	%
	Other equity method investments			74		30% - 50	%			7		30% - 50	%
	Total Equity Method Investments		$	7,322					$	6,268

	Alliance Boots

	On August 2, 2012, pursuant to a Purchase and Option Agreement dated June 18, 2012, by and among the Company, Alliance Boots GmbH and AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited (the Purchase and Option Agreement), the Company acquired 45% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Alliance Boots in exchange for $4.025 billion in cash and approximately 83.4 million shares of Company common stock. On August 5, 2014, the Company entered into an amendment to the purchase and option agreement, which among other things, accelerated the option period from August 5, 2014 to February 5, 2015. The Purchase and Option Agreement, as amended on August 5, 2014, provides, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of specified conditions, a call option that gives the Company the right, but not the obligation, to acquire the remaining 55% of Alliance Boots (second step transaction) in exchange for an additional £3.1 billion in cash (approximately $5.2 billion using August 31, 2014 exchange rates) as well as an additional 144.3 million Company shares, subject to certain adjustments. Pursuant to the amended Option Agreement, the Company exercised its option on August 5, 2014. In certain circumstances, if the second step transaction does not close, the Company's ownership of Alliance Boots will reduce from 45% to 42% in exchange for nominal consideration. The Company's equity earnings, initial investment and the call option exclude the Alliance Boots minority interest in Galenica Ltd. (Galenica). The Alliance Boots investment in Galenica was distributed to the Alliance Boots shareholders other than the Company in May 2013, which had no impact on the Company's financial results.

	The call option, prior to its amendment and subsequent exercise, was valued using a Monte Carlo simulation using assumptions surrounding Walgreens equity value as well as the potential impacts of certain provisions of the Purchase and Option Agreement that are described in the Form 8-K filed by the Company on June 19, 2012. The call option was accounted for at cost and subsequently adjusted for foreign currency translation gains or losses. The final purchase price allocation resulted in $6.1 billion of the total consideration being allocated to the investment and $866 million being allocated to the call option based on their relative fair values. The amendment to the call option was accounted for as a non-monetary exchange with the amended call option valued as an out-of-the-money option using a Monte Carlo simulation. The $866 million remeasurement loss was recorded in other (expense)/income on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

	The Company accounts for its 45% investment in Alliance Boots using the equity method of accounting. Investments accounted for under the equity method are recorded initially at cost and subsequently adjusted for the Company's share of the net income or loss and cash contributions and distributions to or from these entities. Because the underlying net assets in Alliance Boots are denominated in a foreign currency, translation gains or losses will impact the recorded value of the Company's investment. The Company utilizes a three-month lag in reporting equity income in Alliance Boots. Due to the lag and timing of the investment, only 10 months results of Alliance Boots were recorded in fiscal 2013 compared to 12 months of results recorded in fiscal 2014. The Company's investment is recorded as "Equity investment in Alliance Boots" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	The Company's initial investment in Alliance Boots exceeded its proportionate share of the net assets of Alliance Boots by $2.4 billion. This premium of $2.4 billion is recognized as part of the carrying value in the Company's equity investment in Alliance Boots. The difference is primarily related to the fair value of Alliance Boots indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill. The Company's equity method income from the investment in Alliance Boots is adjusted to reflect the amortization of fair value adjustments in certain definite-lived assets of Alliance Boots. The Company's incremental amortization expense associated with the Alliance Boots investment was approximately $42 million in fiscal 2014. In fiscal 2013, the Company recognized approximately $57 million, including the inventory step-up, which was amortized over the first inventory turn.

	During July 2013, the UK Government enacted a law to reduce the UK corporate tax rate effective April 2014 with a further reduction scheduled to take effect in April 2015. The non-cash impact of $71 million was recorded in fiscal 2014 due to the three-month lag.

	Other Equity Method Investments

	Other equity method investments relate to joint ventures associated with the Company's infusion and respiratory business and its equity method investment received through the sale of the Take Care Employer business. These investments are included within other non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company's share of equity income is reported within selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

	Summarized Financial Information

	Summarized financial information for the Company's equity method investees is as follows:

	Balance Sheet (in millions)

			At August 31,
			2014⁽¹⁾		2013⁽¹⁾
	Current Assets		$	8,768	$	8,906
	Non-Current Assets			21,525		19,484
	Current Liabilities			7,791		7,204
	Non-Current Liabilities			11,285		12,228
	Shareholders' Equity⁽²⁾			11,217		8,958

	Income Statement (in millions)

			Year Ended August 31,
			2014⁽³⁾		2013				2012
	Net sales		$	37,305	$	30,446			$	37
	Gross Profit			7,927		6,391				17
	Net Earnings			1,446		1,022				2
	Share of income from investments accounted for using the equity method⁽³⁾			618		345				1

	(1) Net assets in Alliance Boots are translated at the May 31, 2014 spot rate of $1.68 to one British pound Sterling, corresponding to the three-month lag. Fiscal 2013 net assets in Alliance Boots were translated at a spot rate of $1.52 to one British pound Sterling.
	(2) Shareholders' equity at August 31, 2014 and 2013, includes $257 million and $374 million related to non-controlling interests, respectively.
	(3) The Company utilizes a three-month lag in reporting its share of equity income in Alliance Boots. The fiscal year ended August 31, 2013 included only ten month's results for Alliance Boots because of the three-month lag and the timing of the investment on August 2, 2012, compared to twelve months results recorded in fiscal 2014. Earnings in Alliance Boots are translated at the average exchange rate of $1.61 and $1.57 to one British pound Sterling for the years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 respectively. Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH operations are excluded from these results as the Company consolidates the joint venture.

AvailableforSale_Investments

Available-for-Sale Investments	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014
Available-for-Sale Investments [Abstract]	'
Available-for-Sale Investments [Text Block]	'
	-6	Available-for-Sale Investments

	In conjunction with its long-term relationship with AmerisourceBergen, the Company has the right to acquire up to 7% of the common shares of AmerisourceBergen through open market transactions. The Company's cost basis of common shares acquired in fiscal 2014 and 2013 were $493 million and $224 million, respectively. The available-for-sale investment is classified as long-term and reported at fair value within other non-current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company also holds other investments with maturities greater than 90 days that are reported at fair value within other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	Fair value adjustments are based on quoted stock prices with the unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income. Unrealized holding gains at August 31, 2014 and 2013 were $170 million and $1 million, respectively. See Note 11 for additional fair value disclosures. Available-for-sale investments reported at fair value at August 31, 2014 and 2013 were $887 million and $225 million, respectively.

Goodwill_and_Intangibles

Goodwill and Intangibles	12 Months Ended
Goodwill and Intangibles	Aug. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Intangibles [Abstract]	'
Goodwill and Intangibles	'
	-7	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

	Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized, but are evaluated for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. As part of the Company's impairment analysis for each reporting unit, the Company engaged a third party appraisal firm to assist in the determination of estimated fair value for each unit. This determination included estimating the fair value using both the income and market approaches. The income approach requires management to estimate a number of factors for each reporting unit, including projected future operating results, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. The market approach estimates fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from within a comparable industry grouping.

	The determination of the fair value of the reporting units and the allocation of that value to individual assets and liabilities within those reporting units requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions primarily include, but are not limited to: the selection of appropriate peer group companies; control premiums appropriate for acquisitions in the industries in which the Company competes; the discount rate; terminal growth rates; and forecasts of revenue, operating income, depreciation and amortization and capital expenditures. The allocation requires several analyses to determine the fair value of assets and liabilities including, among other things, purchased prescription files, customer relationships and trade names. Although the Company believes its estimates of fair value are reasonable, actual financial results could differ from those estimates due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates. Changes in assumptions concerning future financial results or other underlying assumptions could have a significant impact on either the fair value of the reporting units, the amount of the goodwill impairment charge, or both. The Company also compared the sum of the estimated fair values of its reporting units to the Company's total value as implied by the market value of its equity and debt securities. This comparison indicated that, in total, its assumptions and estimates were reasonable. However, future declines in the overall market value of the Company's equity and debt securities may indicate that the fair value of one or more reporting units has declined below its carrying value.
	One measure of the sensitivity of the amount of goodwill impairment charges to key assumptions is the amount by which each reporting unit "passed" (fair value exceeds the carrying amount) or "failed" (the carrying amount exceeds fair value) the first step of the goodwill impairment test. The Company's reporting units' fair values exceeded their carrying amounts ranging from approximately 12% to more than 117%.

	Generally, changes in estimates of expected future cash flows would have a similar effect on the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. That is, a 1% change in estimated future cash flows would change the estimated fair value of the reporting unit by approximately 1%. The estimated long-term rate of net sales growth can have a significant impact on the estimated future cash flows, and therefore, the fair value of each reporting unit. Of the other key assumptions that impact the estimated fair values, most reporting units have the greatest sensitivity to changes in the estimated discount rate. The Company believes that its estimates of future cash flows and discount rates are reasonable, but future changes in the underlying assumptions could differ due to the inherent uncertainty in making such estimates.

	Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill consist of the following activity (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Net book value – September 1		$	2,410			$	2,161
	Acquisitions			58				236
	Sale of business			(92	)			-
	Other⁽¹⁾			(17	)			13
	Net book value – August 31		$	2,359			$	2,410

	-1	"Other" primarily represents immaterial purchase accounting adjustments for the Company's acquisitions.

	In June 2014, the Company completed the sale of a majority interest in its subsidiary, Take Care Employer. As a result, $92 million of goodwill allocated to this business was removed from goodwill on the consolidated balance sheet.

	In November 2013, the Company purchased certain assets of Kerr Drug and its affiliates for $173 million, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The Company recorded $45 million of goodwill and $54 million of intangible assets in conjunction with the preliminary purchase accounting for this acquisition.

	In September 2012, the Company purchased the regional drugstore chain USA Drug from Stephen L. LaFrance Holdings, Inc. and members of the LaFrance family for $436 million net of assumed cash and selected other assets (primarily prescription files). In December 2012, the Company purchased an 80% interest in Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Pharmacy LLC for $29 million, net of assumed cash. The USA Drug and Cystic Fibrosis acquisitions added $220 million and $16 million of goodwill, respectively.

	The carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets consists of the following (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Gross Intangible Assets
	Purchased prescription files		$	1,079			$	1,099
	Favorable lease interests			382				381
	Purchasing and payer contracts			301				347
	Non-compete agreements			151				153
	Trade names			199				199
	Other amortizable intangible assets			4				4
	Total gross intangible assets			2,116				2,183

	Accumulated amortization
	Purchased prescription files			(474	)			(467	)
	Favorable lease interests			(174	)			(143	)
	Purchasing and payer contracts			(145	)			(147	)
	Non-compete agreements			(70	)			(67	)
	Trade names			(69	)			(49	)
	Other amortizable intangible assets			(4	)			(3	)
	Total accumulated amortization			(936	)			(876	)
	Total intangible assets, net		$	1,180			$	1,307

	Amortization expense for intangible assets was $282 million in fiscal 2014, $289 million in fiscal 2013 and $255 million in fiscal 2012. The weighted-average amortization period for purchased prescription files was six years for fiscal 2014 and seven years for fiscal 2013. The weighted-average amortization period for favorable lease interests was 11 years for fiscal 2014 and 2013. The weighted-average amortization period for purchasing and payer contracts was 13 years for fiscal 2014 and 2013. The weighted-average amortization period for non-compete agreements was five years for fiscal 2014 and six years for fiscal 2013. The weighted-average amortization period for trade names was 12 years for fiscal 2014 and 12 years for fiscal 2013. The weighted-average amortization period for other amortizable intangible assets was eight years for fiscal 2014 and 10 years for fiscal 2013.

	Expected amortization expense for intangible assets recorded at August 31, 2014, not including amounts related to Alliance Boots that will be amortized through equity method investment income, is as follows (in millions):

	2015				2016				2017			2018			2019
		$	250			$	210			$	167		$	129		$	106

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes	Aug. 31, 2014
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	-8	Income Taxes

	The components of Earnings Before Income Tax Provision were (in millions):

			2014				2013
	U.S.		$	3,386			$	3,477
	Non-U.S.			171				418
	Total		$	3,557			$	3,895

	The provision for income taxes consists of the following (in millions):

			2014				2013				2012
	Current provision -
	Federal		$	1,207			$	1,122			$	890
	State			109				134				120
	Non-U.S.			35				15				-
				1,351				1,271				1,010
	Deferred provision -
	Federal			183				174				251
	State			(3	)			(2	)			(12	)
	Non-U.S.			(5	)			2				-
				175				174				239
	Income tax provision		$	1,526			$	1,445			$	1,249

	The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate is as follows:

			2014				2013				2012
	Federal statutory rate			35	%			35	%			35	%
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit			1.9	%			2.2	%			2.1	%
	Loss on Alliance Boots call option⁽¹⁾			8.5	%			0	%			0	%
	Foreign income taxed at non-US rate			-3.1	%			-0.3	%			0	%
	Other			0.6	%			0.2	%			-0.1	%
	Effective income tax rate			42.9	%			37.1	%			37	%

	(1) Upon the amdendment and immediate exercise of the call option to acquire the reamining 55% ownership of Alliance Boots, the Company was required to copmare the fair value of the amended option with the book value of the original option with a gain or loss recognized for the difference. The fair value of the amended option resulted in a financial statement loss of $866 million. The loss on the Alliance Boots call option will be, in part, a capital loss and available to be carried forward and offset future capital gains through fiscal 2020. The loss also contributed to the increased valuation allowance amount reporting in the deferred income tax table below.

	The deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Deferred tax assets -
	Postretirement benefits		$	247			$	218
	Compensation and benefits			166				136
	Insurance			98				121
	Accrued rent			166				157
	Tax benefits			430				159
	Stock compensation			131				159
	Other			140				96
	Subtotal			1,378				1,046
	Less: Valuation allowance			223				19
	Total deferred tax assets			1,155				1,027
	Deferred tax liabilities -
	Accelerated depreciation			1,244				1,369
	Inventory			407				396
	Intangible assets			64				53
	Equity method investment			355				21
	Deferred income			208				4
	Subtotal			2,278				1,843
	Net deferred tax liabilities		$	1,123			$	816

	At August 31, 2014, the Company has recorded deferred tax assets of $430 million, primarily reflecting the benefit of $1.0 billion in federal and $713 million in state ordinary and capital losses. These deferred tax assets will expire at various dates from 2015 through 2033, with the majority of the federal losses expiring in 2019 and 2020.

	The Company believes it is more likely than not that the benefit from certain net operating and capital loss carryforwards will not be realized. In recognition of this risk, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance of 223 million on certain deferred tax assets relating to these loss carryforwards as of August 31, 2014.

Income taxes paid were $1.2 billion for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012.

ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, provides guidance regarding the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure in the financial statements of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return, including the decision whether to file in a particular jurisdiction. As of August 31, 2014, all unrecognized tax benefits were reported as long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of August 31, 2013, $32 million, of unrecognized tax benefits were reported as current income tax liabilities, with the balance classified as long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits (in millions):

		2014				2013				2012
Balance at beginning of year		$	208			$	197			$	94
Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period			55				18				100
Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period			(82	)			(32	)			(49	)
Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period			46				30				53
Settlements with taxing authorities			(22	)			(2	)			(1	)
Lapse of statute of limitations			(12	)			(3	)			-
Balance at end of year		$	193			$	208			$	197

At August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, $105 million, $116 million and $118 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits would favorably impact the effective tax rate if recognized. During the next twelve months, the Company does not expect a material change in the amount of the unrecognized tax benefits.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties in the income tax provision in its Consolidated Statements of Earnings. At August 31, 2014, and August 31, 2013, the Company had accrued interest and penalties of $21 million and $28 million, respectively. For the year ended August 31, 2014, the amount reported in income tax expense related to interest and penalties was an immaterial benefit.

The Company files a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return, as well as income tax returns in various states. It is no longer under audit examination for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any years prior to fiscal 2012. With few exceptions, it is no longer subject to state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before fiscal 2007.

The Company has received tax holidays from Swiss cantonal income taxes relative to its Swiss operations. The income tax holidays are expected to extend through September 2022. The holidays had an immaterial impact on the Company's results during the current fiscal year. At August 31, 2014, the Company has an unrecorded deferred tax liability for temporary differences related to its investments in certain foreign subsidiaries of approximately $85 million.

ShortTerm_Borrowings_and_LongT

Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt	Aug. 31, 2014
Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt [Abstract]	'
Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt	'
	-9	Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt

	Short-term borrowings and long-term debt consist of the following at August 31 (in millions):


	Short-Term Borrowings -		2014				2013
	Current maturities of loans assumed through the purchase of land and buildings; various interest rates from 5.000% to 8.750%; various maturities from 2015 to 2035		$	8			$	2
	1.000% unsecured notes due 2015, net of unamortized discount			750				-
	Unsecured variable rate notes due 2014, net of unamortized discount			-				550
	Other			16				18
	Total short-term borrowings		$	774			$	570


	Long-Term Debt -
	1.000% unsecured notes due 2015, net of unamortized discount			-				749
	1.800% unsecured notes due 2017, net of unamortized discount			999				998
	5.250% unsecured notes due 2019, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap fair market value adjustment (see Note 10)			1,010				994
	3.100% unsecured notes due 2022, net of unamortized discount			1,199				1,199
	4.400% unsecured notes due 2042, net of unamortized discount			496				496
	Loans assumed through the purchase of land and buildings; various interest rates from 5.000% to 8.750%; various maturities from 2015 to 2035			40				43
				3,744				4,479
	Less current maturities			(8	)			(2	)
	Total long-term debt		$	3,736			$	4,477

	On September 13, 2012, the Company received net proceeds from a public offering of $4.0 billion of notes with varying maturities and interest rates, the majority of which are fixed rate.
	The following details each tranche of notes issued on September 13, 2012:

	Notes Issued			Maturity Date	Interest Rate	Interest Payment Dates
	(In millions)			Maturity Date	Interest Rate	Interest Payment Dates
	$	550		13-Mar-14	Variable; three-month U.S. Dollar LIBOR, reset quarterly, plus 50 basis points	March 13, June 13, September 13 and December 13; commencing on December 13, 2012
		750		13-Mar-15	Fixed 1.000%	March 13 and September 13; commencing on March 13, 2013
		1,000		15-Sep-17	Fixed 1.800%	March 15 and September 15; commencing on March 15, 2013
		1,200		15-Sep-22	Fixed 3.100%	March 15 and September 15; commencing on March 15, 2013
		500		15-Sep-42	Fixed 4.400%	March 15 and September 15; commencing on March 15, 2013
	$	4,000

	The Company paid in full its $550 million obligation that matured in March 2014. The Company may redeem the fixed rate notes at its option, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed; and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined), plus 12 basis points for the notes due 2015, 20 basis points for the notes due 2017, 22 basis points for the notes due 2022 and 25 basis points for the notes due 2042. If a change of control triggering event occurs, the Company will be required, unless it has exercised its right to redeem the notes, to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to the date of repurchase. The notes are unsecured senior debt obligations and rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. Total issuance costs relating to the notes, including underwriting discounts and fees, were $26 million. The fair value of the notes as of August 31, 2014 and 2013 was $3.4 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively. Fair value for these notes was determined based upon quoted market prices.

	On January 13, 2009, the Company issued notes totaling $1.0 billion bearing an interest rate of 5.250% paid semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2009. The notes will mature on January 15, 2019. The Company may redeem the notes, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at its option at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed; or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest, discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis at the Treasury Rate, plus 45 basis points, plus accrued interest on the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the date of redemption. If a change of control triggering event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the notes, it will be required to offer to repurchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. The notes are unsecured senior debt obligations and rank equally with all other unsecured senior indebtedness of the Company. The notes are not convertible or exchangeable. Total issuance costs relating to this offering were $8 million, primarily underwriting fees. The fair value of the notes as of August 31, 2014 and 2013, was $1.1 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively. Fair value for these notes was determined based upon quoted market prices.
	We have periodically borrowed under our commercial paper program during the current fiscal year, and may continue to borrow in future periods. We had average daily short-term borrowings of $4 million of commercial paper outstanding at a weighted average interest rate of 0.23% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. We had no commercial paper outstanding at August 31, 2014. In connection with the commercial paper program, the Company maintains two unsecured backup syndicated lines of credit that total $1.35 billion. The first $500 million facility expires on July 20, 2015, and allows for the issuance of up to $250 million in letters of credit. The second $850 million facility expires on July 23, 2017, and allows for the issuance of up to $200 million in letters of credit. The issuance of letters of credit under either of these facilities reduces available borrowings. The Company's ability to access these facilities is subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of the credit facilities, including financial covenants. The covenants require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios related to minimum net worth and priority debt, along with limitations on the sale of assets and purchases of investments. At August 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants. The Company pays a facility fee to the financing banks to keep these lines of credit active. At August 31, 2014, there were no letters of credit issued against these credit facilities and the Company does not anticipate any future letters of credit to be issued against these facilities.

Financial_Instruments

Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014
Financial Instruments [Abstract]	'
Financial Instruments	'
	-10	Financial Instruments

	The Company uses derivative instruments to manage its interest rate exposure associated with some of its fixed-rate borrowings. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. All derivative instruments are recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. The Company designates interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of fixed-rate borrowings. For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, the change in the fair value of both the derivative instrument and the hedged item are recognized in earnings in the current period. The Company's forward starting interest rate swaps used to hedge anticipated debt issuances are designated as cash flow hedges. Changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges deemed effective are recognized in other comprehensive income. At the inception of a hedge transaction, the Company formally documents the hedge relationship and the risk management objective for undertaking the hedge. In addition, it assesses both at inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis whether the derivative in the hedging transaction has been highly effective in offsetting changes in fair value of the hedged item and whether the derivative is expected to continue to be highly effective. The impact of any ineffectiveness is recognized currently in earnings.

	Counterparties to derivative financial instruments expose the Company to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance, but the Company regularly monitors the credit worthiness of each counterparty.

	Fair Value Hedges

	In prior fiscal years, the Company entered into a series of interest rate swaps converting $750 million of its 5.250% fixed rate notes to a floating interest rate based on the six-month LIBOR in arrears plus a constant spread and an interest rate swap converting $250 million of its 5.250% fixed rate notes to a floating interest rate based on the one-month LIBOR in arrears plus a constant spread. All swap termination dates coincide with the notes maturity date, January 15, 2019. The changes in fair value of the notes attributable to the hedged risk are included in short-term and long-term debt on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. No material gains or losses were recorded in fiscal 2014 or 2013 from ineffectiveness.

	Cash Flow Hedges

	In the current fiscal year, the Company entered into a series of forward starting interest rate swap transactions locking in the then current three-month LIBOR interest rate on $1.5 billion of anticipated debt issuance, with expected maturity tenures of 10 and 30 years. The swap transactions are designated as cash flow hedges. Changes in the fair value of swaps are recorded in other comprehensive income. Any ineffectiveness is recognized in interest expense on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	The notional amounts of derivative instruments outstanding at August 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows (in millions):

		2014				2013
	Derivatives designated as fair value hedges:
	Interest rate swaps		$	1,000			$	1,000
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
	Forward interest rate swaps			1,500				-

	The changes in fair value of the Company's debt that was swapped from fixed to variable rate and designated as fair value hedges are included in long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 9). At August 31, 2014, the cumulative fair value adjustments resulted in an increase in long-term debt of $12 million compared to a decrease in fair value of $3 million at August 31, 2013.

	Changes in fair value of the cash flow hedges are included in other comprehensive income, with any ineffectiveness recorded directly to interest expense. The fair value change in fiscal 2014 reported in other comprehensive income was $44 million, $27 million net of tax, at August 31, 2014. Upon termination of the cash flow hedges, cumulative changes included in other comprehensive income will be amortized with the debt's cash flow. No material fair value changes or ineffectiveness was recorded through other comprehensive income in fiscal 2014.

	The fair value and balance sheet presentation of derivative instruments at August 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows (in millions):

		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets	2014				2013
	Asset derivatives designated as hedges:
	Interest rate swaps	Other non-current assets		$	16			$	1
	Liability derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
	Forward interest rate swaps	Other non-current liabilities			44				-

	Warrants

	The Company, Alliance Boots and AmerisourceBergen Corporation entered into a Framework Agreement dated as of March 18, 2013, pursuant to which (1) Walgreens and Alliance Boots together were granted the right to purchase a minority equity position in AmerisourceBergen, beginning with the right, but not the obligation, to purchase up to 19,859,795 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock (approximately 7 percent of the then fully diluted equity of AmerisourceBergen, assuming the exercise in full of the warrants described below) in open market transactions; (2) the Company and Alliance Boots were each issued (a) a warrant to purchase up to 111,348,456 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock at an exercise price of $51.50 per share exercisable during a six-month period beginning in March 2016, and (b) a warrant to purchase up to 11,348,456 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock at an exercise price of $52.50 per share exercisable during a six-month period beginning in March 2017. The parties and affiliated entities also entered into certain related agreements governing relations between and among the parties thereto, including the Shareholders Agreement, the Transaction Rights Agreement and the Limited Liability Company Agreement of WAB Holdings LLC, a newly formed limited liability company jointly owned by the Company and Alliance Boots for the purpose of acquiring and holding AmerisourceBergen common stock, described in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 20, 2013.

	The Company reports its warrants at fair value. See Note 11 for additional fair value measurement disclosures. The fair value and balance sheet presentation of derivative instruments not designated as hedges at August 31, 2014 and 2013, was as follows (In millions):

		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets	2014				2013
	Asset derivatives not designated as hedges:
	Warrants	Other non-current assets		$	553			$	188

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements	Aug. 31, 2014
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	-11	Fair Value Measurements

	The Company measures certain assets and liabilities in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In addition, it establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels:

	Level 1 -	Quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets and liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.
	Level 2 -	Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets.
	Level 3 -	Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

	Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows (in millions):

			31-Aug-14			Level 1				Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:
	Money market funds		$	1,879		$	1,879			$	-		$	-
	Interest rate swaps⁽¹⁾			16			-				16			-
	Investment in AmerisourceBergen⁽²⁾			887			887				-			-
	Warrants⁽³⁾			553			-				553			-
	Liabilities:
	Forward interest rate swaps⁽⁴⁾			44			-				44			-

			31-Aug-13			Level 1				Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:
	Money market funds		$	1,636		$	1,636			$	-		$	-
	Interest rate swaps⁽¹⁾			1			-				1			-
	Investment in AmerisourceBergen⁽²⁾			225			225				-			-
	Warrants⁽³⁾			188			-				188			-

	-1	Interest rate swaps are valued using the six-month and one-month LIBOR in arrears rates. See Note 10 for additional disclosure regarding financial instruments.
	-2	The investment in AmerisourceBergen Corporation is valued using the closing stock price of AmerisourceBergen as of the balance sheet dates. See Note 6 for additional disclosures on available-for-sale investments.
	-3	Warrants were valued using a Monte Carlo simulation. Key assumptions used in the valuation include risk-free interest rates using constant maturity treasury rates; the dividend yield for AmerisourceBergen's common stock; AmerisourceBergen's common stock price at the valuation date; AmerisourceBergen's equity volatility; the number of shares of AmerisourceBergen's common stock outstanding; the number of AmerisourceBergen employee stock options and the exercise price; and the details specific to the warrants.
	(4) Forward interest rate swaps are valued using three-month LIBOR in arrears rates. See Note 10 for additional disclosure regarding financial instruments.

			31-Aug-14		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:
	Alliance Boots call option		$	-	$	-		$	-		$	-

			31-Aug-13		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:
	Alliance Boots call option		$	839	$	-		$	-		$	839

	The call option was valued using a Monte Carlo simulation. Key assumptions used in the valuation include expected term, Walgreens equity value, the value of Alliance Boots and the potential impacts of certain provisions of the Purchase and Option Agreement dated June 18, 2012, by and among the Company, Alliance Boots and AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited. The option was amended, and exercised, on August 5, 2014, resulting in a new fair value determination that resulted in a loss on the option of $866 million.
	The Company reports its debt instruments under the guidance of ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, which requires disclosure of the fair value of the Company's debt in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements. See Note 9 for further details.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	-12	Commitments and Contingencies

	The Company is involved in legal proceedings and is subject to investigations, inspections, audits, inquiries and similar actions by governmental authorities, arising in the normal course of the Company's business, including the matters described below. Legal proceedings, in general, and securities and class action litigation, in particular, can be expensive and disruptive. Some of these suits may purport or may be determined to be class actions and/or involve parties seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages, and may remain unresolved for several years. From time to time, the Company is also involved in legal proceedings as a plaintiff involving antitrust, tax, contract, intellectual property and other matters. Gain contingencies, if any, are recognized when they are realized. The results of legal proceedings are often uncertain and difficult to predict, and the costs incurred in litigation can be substantial, regardless of the outcome. The Company believes that its defenses and assertions in pending legal proceedings have merit, and does not believe that any of these pending matters, after consideration of applicable reserves and rights to indemnification, will have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position. However, substantial unanticipated verdicts, fines and rulings do sometimes occur. As a result, the Company could from time to time incur judgments, enter into settlements or revise its expectations regarding the outcome of certain matters, and such developments could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations in the period in which the amounts are accrued and/or its cash flows in the period in which the amounts are paid.
	On a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies for outstanding legal proceedings and reserves are established on a case-by-case basis for those legal claims for which management concludes that it is probable that a loss will be incurred and that the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. Substantially all of these contingencies are subject to significant uncertainties and, therefore, determining the likelihood of a loss and/or the measurement of any loss can be complex. With respect to litigation and other legal proceedings where the Company has determined that a loss is reasonably possible, the Company is unable to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss in excess of amounts reserved due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding such litigation and legal proceedings. The Company's assessments are based on estimates and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, but that may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that might cause the Company to change those estimates and assumptions. Therefore, it is possible that an unfavorable resolution of one or more pending litigation or other contingencies could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements in a future fiscal period. Management's assessment of current litigation and other legal proceedings, including the corresponding accruals, could change because of the discovery of facts with respect to legal actions or other proceedings pending against the Company which are not presently known. Adverse rulings or determinations by judges, juries, governmental authorities or other parties could also result in changes to management's assessment of current liabilities and contingencies. Accordingly, the ultimate costs of resolving these claims may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts reserved.
	On June 11, 2013, the Company entered into a Settlement and Memorandum of Agreement (the Agreement) with the United States Department of Justice and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that settled and resolved all administrative and civil matters arising out of DEA's previously-disclosed concerns relating to the Company's distribution and dispensing of controlled substances. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company paid an $80 million settlement amount, surrendered its DEA registrations for six pharmacies in Florida until May 26, 2014, and for its Jupiter, Florida distribution center until Sept. 13, 2014, and agreed to implement certain remedial actions. In addition, the Company dismissed with prejudice its petition with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that challenged certain enforcement authority of the DEA. On July 31, 2013 and August 13, 2013, putative shareholders filed derivative actions in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois against the Walgreens Board of Directors and Walgreen Co. as a nominal defendant (collectively, the defendants), arising out of the Company's June 2013 settlement with the DEA described above. The actions assert claims for breach of fiduciary duty on the grounds that the directors allegedly should have prevented the events that led to the settlement. The plaintiffs filed an amended consolidated complaint on October 4, 2013, pursuant to which they seek damages and other relief on behalf of the Company. The defendants filed their motion to dismiss on December 3, 2013. Subsequent thereto, the plaintiffs filed an opposition brief on February 7, 2014 and the defendants filed their reply brief on March 10, 2014. In June 2014, the parties executed a settlement term sheet reflecting an agreement in principle to settle this matter, subject to, among other things, the execution of final settlement documentation and court approval. On September 11, 2014, the defendants, denying all wrongdoing and liability, entered into a Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement whereby the Company agreed to certain corporate governance measures and the payment of up to $3.5 million for plaintiffs' counsel fees and costs in exchange for a complete release of all claims against all defendants. The Court entered an order preliminarily approving the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement on September 19, 2014. A final hearing to approve the settlement is scheduled for December 9, 2014. Settlement of this matter on the agreed terms would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Capital_Stock

Capital Stock	12 Months Ended
Capital Stock	Aug. 31, 2014
Capital Stock [Abstract]	'
Capital Stock	'
	-13	Capital Stock

	The Company's long-term capital policy is to maintain a strong balance sheet and financial flexibility; reinvest in its core strategies; invest in strategic opportunities that reinforce its core strategies and meet return requirements; and return surplus cash flow to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases over the long term. In connection with the Company's capital policy, the Board of Directors set a long-term dividend payout ratio target between 30 and 35 percent of net income. On July 13, 2011, the Board of Directors authorized the 2012 repurchase program, which allows for the repurchase of up to $2.0 billion of the Company's common stock prior to its expiration on December 31, 2015. In August 2014, the Board of Directors approved the 2014 share repurchase program, which replaces the 2012 repurchase program, that allows for the purchase of up to $3.0 billion of the Company's common stock prior to its expiration on August 31, 2016. Activity related to these programs was as follows (in millions):

		Fiscal Year Ended
		2014			2013			2012
	2012 stock repurchase program		$	-		$	-		$	1,151
	2014 stock repurchase program			-			-			-
			$	-		$	-		$	1,151

	The Company determines the timing and amount of repurchases from time to time based on its assessment of various factors including prevailing market conditions, alternate uses of capital, liquidity, the economic environment and other factors. The timing and amount of these purchases may change at any time and from time to time. The Company has and may from time to time in the future repurchase shares on the open market through Rule 10b5-1 plans, which enable a company to repurchase shares at times when it otherwise might be precluded from doing so under insider trading laws.

	In addition, the Company continued to repurchase shares to support the needs of the employee stock plans. Shares totaling $705 million were purchased to support the needs of the employee stock plans during fiscal 2014 as compared to $615 million in fiscal 2013. At August 31, 2014, 48.4 million shares of common stock were reserved for future issuances under the Company's various employee benefit plans.

Stock_Compensation_Plans

Stock Compensation Plans	12 Months Ended
Stock Compensation Plans	Aug. 31, 2014
Stock Compensation Plans [Abstract]	'
Stock Compensation Plans	'
	-14	Stock Compensation Plans

	The Walgreen Co. Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "Omnibus Plan") which became effective in fiscal 2013, provides for incentive compensation to Walgreens non-employee directors, officers and employees, and consolidates into a single plan several previously existing equity compensation plans: the Executive Stock Option Plan, the Long-Term Performance Incentive Plan, the Broad Based Employee Stock Option Plan, and the Nonemployee Director Stock Plan (collectively, the "Former Plans"). As of the effective date of the Omnibus Plan, no further grants may be made under the Former Plans and shares that were available for issuance under the Former Plans and not subject to outstanding awards became available for issuance (in addition to newly authorized shares) under the Omnibus Plan. A total of 60.4 million shares became available for delivery under the Omnibus Plan.

	A summary of the equity awards authorized and available for future grants under the Omnibus Plan and Former Plans follows:

	Available for future grants at August 31, 2013			56,454,499
	Newly authorized options			-
	Granted			(11,209,853	)
	Cancellation and forfeitures			1,417,145
	Plan termination			1,690,451
	Available for future grants at August 31, 2014			48,352,242

	A summary of the Company's stock options outstanding under the Omnibus Plan and Former Plans follows:

	Options		Shares				Weighted-				Weighted-			Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions)
	Options		Shares				Average Exercise Price				Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)			Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions)
	Outstanding at August 31, 2013			41,216,173			$	34.69				6.14		$	548
	Granted			6,744,582				60.7
	Exercised			(13,832,509	)			35.47
	Expired/Forfeited			(2,211,422	)			42.54
	Outstanding at August 31, 2014			31,916,824			$	39.28				6.4		$	674
	Unvested at August 31, 2014			18,869,912			$	43.33				7.93		$	326
	Exercisable at August 31, 2014			12,433,713			$	32.97				4.04		$	343

	The fair value of each option grant was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012:

			2014				2013				2012
	Risk-free interest rate⁽¹⁾			1.98	%			1.15	%			1.73	%
	Average life of option (years)⁽²⁾			6.9				7				7.9
	Volatility⁽³⁾			26.27	%			24.94	%			27.02	%
	Dividend yield⁽⁴⁾			2.48	%			2.44	%			2.9	%
	Weighted-average grant-date fair value		$	12.88			$	6.75			$	8.08

	-1	Represents the U.S. Treasury security rates for the expected term of the option.
	-2	Represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The Company analyzed separate groups of employees with similar exercise behavior to determine the expected term.
	-3	Volatility was based on historical and implied volatility of the Company's common stock.
	-4	Represents the Company's cash dividend for the expected term.

	The intrinsic value for options exercised in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $346 million, $159 million and $22 million, respectively. The total fair value of options vested in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $58 million, $51 million and $125 million, respectively.

	Cash received from the exercise of options in fiscal 2014 was $490 million compared to $471 million in the prior year. The related tax benefit realized was $130 million in fiscal 2014 compared to $60 million in the prior year.

	The Walgreen Co. 1982 Employees Stock Purchase Plan permits eligible employees to purchase common stock at 90% of the fair market value at the date of purchase. Employees may make purchases by cash or payroll deductions up to certain limits. The aggregate number of shares that may be purchased under this Plan is 94 million. At August 31, 2014, 15 million shares were available for future purchase.

	Restricted performance shares issued under the Omnibus and Former Plans offer performance-based incentive awards and equity-based awards to key employees. Restricted stock units are also equity-based awards with performance requirements that are granted to middle managers and key employees. The restricted performance shares and restricted stock unit awards are both subject to restrictions as to continuous employment except in the case of death, normal retirement or total and permanent disability. In accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the employee's vesting period or to the employee's retirement eligible date, if earlier.

	A summary of information relative to the Company's restricted stock units follows:

	Outstanding Shares		Shares				Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
	Outstanding at August 31, 2013			3,497,838			$	41.57
	Granted			679,658				60.76
	Dividends			79,073				-
	Forfeited			(265,651	)			43.63
	Vested			(710,851	)			35.09
	Outstanding at August 31, 2014			3,280,067			$	45.4

	A summary of information relative to the Company's performance shares follows:

	Outstanding Shares		Shares				Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
	Outstanding at August 31, 2013			2,217,610			$	32.99
	Granted			615,921				65.08
	Forfeited			(163,473	)			44.01
Vested			(606,926	)			28.31
Outstanding at August 31, 2014			2,063,132			$	44.85

The Company also issues shares to nonemployee directors. Each director receives an equity grant of shares every year on November 1. The number of shares granted is determined by dividing $175,000 by the price of a share of common stock on November 1. Each nonemployee director may elect to receive this annual share grant in the form of shares or deferred stock units. In fiscal 2014, nonemployee directors received a share grant of 2,892 shares compared to 4,789 shares and 4,788 shares in fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively. New directors in any fiscal year earned a prorated amount. Payment of the annual retainer is paid in the form of cash, which may be deferred.
A summary of total stock-based compensation expense follows (in millions):

		2014				2013				2012
Stock options		$	52			$	51			$	62
Restricted stock units			48				33				24
Performance shares			8				15				7
Share Walgreens			6				5				6
		$	114			$	104			$	99

Retirement_Benefits

Retirement Benefits	12 Months Ended
Retirement Benefits	Aug. 31, 2014
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]	'
Retirement Benefits	'
	-15	Retirement Benefits

	The principal retirement plan for employees is the Walgreen Profit-Sharing Retirement Trust, to which both the Company and participating employees contribute. The Company's contribution, which has historically related to FIFO earnings before interest and taxes and a portion of which is in the form of a guaranteed match, is determined annually at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The profit-sharing provision was $355 million in fiscal 2014, $342 million in fiscal 2013 and $283 million in fiscal 2012. The Company's contributions were $328 million in fiscal 2014, $262 million in fiscal 2013 and $372 million in fiscal 2012.

	The Company provides certain health insurance benefits for retired employees who meet eligibility requirements, including age, years of service and date of hire. The costs of these benefits are accrued over the service life of the employee. In fiscal 2012, the Company amended its prescription drug program for certain Medicare-eligible retirees to a group-based Company-sponsored Medicare Part D program, or employer group waiver program, effective January 1, 2013. The Company's postretirement health benefit plan is not funded.

	Components of net periodic benefit costs (in millions):

			2014				2013			2012
	Service cost		$	8			$	9		$	13
	Interest cost			17				14			22
	Amortization of actuarial loss			11				12			8
	Amortization of prior service cost			(23	)			(22	)		(10	)
	Total postretirement benefit cost		$	13			$	13		$	33

	Change in benefit obligation (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Benefit obligation at September 1		$	350			$	342
	Service cost			8				9
	Interest cost			17				14
	Amendments			(23	)			-
	Actuarial loss (gain)			88				(1	)
	Benefit payments			(19	)			(20	)
	Participants' contributions			6				6
	Benefit obligation at August 31		$	427			$	350

	Change in plan assets (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Plan assets at fair value at September 1		$	-			$	-
	Participants' contributions			6				6
	Employer contributions			13				14
	Benefits paid			(19	)			(20	)
	Plan assets at fair value at August 31		$	-			$	-

	Funded status (in millions):

		2014				2013
	Funded status at August 31		$	(427	)		$	(350	)

	Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Current liabilities (present value of expected 2015 net benefit payments)		$	(11	)		$	(10	)
	Non-current liabilities			(416	)			(340	)
	Net liability recognized at August 31		$	(427	)		$	(350	)

	Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Prior service credit		$	(228	)		$	(228	)
	Net actuarial loss			225				148

	Amounts expected to be recognized as components of net periodic costs for fiscal year 2015 (in millions):

			2015
	Prior service credit		$	(24	)
	Net actuarial loss			19

	The measurement date used to determine postretirement benefits is August 31.

	The discount rate assumption used to compute the postretirement benefit obligation at year-end was 4.40% for 2014 and 5.20% for 2013. The discount rate assumption used to determine net periodic benefit cost was 5.05%, 4.15% and 5.40% for fiscal years ending 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The consumer price index assumption used to compute the postretirement benefit obligation was 2.00% for 2014 and 2013.

Future benefit costs were estimated assuming medical costs would increase at a 7.15% annual rate, gradually decreasing to 5.25% over the next nine years and then remaining at a 5.25% annual growth rate thereafter. A one percentage point change in the assumed medical cost trend rate would have the following effects (in millions):

		1% Increase				1% Decrease
Effect on service and interest cost		$	(1	)		$	1
Effect on postretirement obligation			(3	)			7

Estimated future federal subsidies are immaterial for all periods presented. Future benefit payments are as follows (in millions):

		Estimated Future Benefit Payments
2015		$	12
2016			13
2017			14
2018			16
2019			17
2020-2024			112

The expected benefit to be paid net of the estimated federal subsidy during fiscal year 2015 is $12 million.

Supplementary_Financial_Inform

Supplementary Financial Information	12 Months Ended
Supplementary Financial Information	Aug. 31, 2014
Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]	'
Supplementary Financial Information	'
	-16	Supplementary Financial Information

	Significant non-cash transactions in fiscal 2014 include $322 million for additional capital lease obligations. Significant non-cash transactions in fiscal 2013 include $77 million related to the initial valuation of the AmerisourceBergen warrants. Significant non-cash transactions in fiscal 2012 include $3 billion in stock issuance relating to the investment in Alliance Boots.

	Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets captions are the following assets and liabilities (in millions):

			2014			2013
	Accounts receivable -
	Accounts receivable		$	3,391		$	2,786
	Allowance for doubtful accounts (see Note 1)			(173	)		(154	)
			$	3,218		$	2,632
	Other non-current assets -
	Intangible assets, net (see Note 7)		$	1,180		$	1,307
	Investment in AmerisourceBergen			887			225
	Warrants			553			188
	Other			456			239
			$	3,076		$	1,959
	Accrued expenses and other liabilities -
	Accrued salaries		$	1,123		$	928
	Taxes other than income taxes			377			420
	Insurance			185			285
	Profit sharing			259			239
	Other			1,757			1,705
			$	3,701		$	3,577
	Other non-current liabilities -
	Postretirement healthcare benefits		$	416		$	340
	Accrued rent			409			382
	Insurance			428			403
	Other			1,689			942
			$	2,942		$	2,067

	Summary of Quarterly Results (Unaudited)
	(In millions, except per share amounts)

			Quarter Ended
			November			February			May			August			Fiscal Year
	Fiscal 2014
	Net Sales		$	18,329		$	19,605		$	19,401		$	19,057		$	76,392
	Gross Profit			5,152			5,650			5,440			5,327			21,569
	Net Earnings attributable to Walgreen Co.			695			754			722			(239	)		1,932
	Per Common Share -
	Basic		$	0.73		$	0.79		$	0.76		$	(0.25	)	$	2.03
	Diluted			0.72			0.78			0.75			(0.25	)		2
	Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share		$	0.315		$	0.315		$	0.315		$	0.3375		$	1.2825
	Fiscal 2013
	Net Sales		$	17,316		$	18,647		$	18,313		$	17,941		$	72,217
	Gross Profit			5,099			5,607			5,222			5,191			21,119
	Net Earnings			413			756			624			657			2,450
	Per Common Share -
	Basic		$	0.44		$	0.8		$	0.66		$	0.69		$	2.59
	Diluted			0.43			0.79			0.65			0.69			2.56
	Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share		$	0.275		$	0.275		$	0.275		$	0.315		$	1.14

	Common Stock Prices (Unaudited)

	The following table sets forth the sales price ranges of the Company's common stock by quarter during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013 as reported by the Consolidated Transaction Reporting System.

				Quarter Ended
				November			February			May			August			Fiscal Year
	Fiscal 2014	High		$	60.93		$	69.84		$	71.97		$	76.39		$	76.39
	Low				48.18			54.86			62.8			57.75			48.18
	Fiscal 2013	High		$	36.95		$	41.95		$	50.77		$	51.26		$	51.26
	Low				32.16			34.27			39.96			44.12			32.16

Summary_of_Major_Accounting_Po1

Summary of Major Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2014

Summary of Major Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The provision for bad debt is based on both historical write-off percentages and specifically identified receivables. Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts was as follows (in millions):

2014

2013

2012

Balance at beginning of year

154

101

Bad debt provision

124

107

Write-offs

(67

)

(69

)

(109

)

Balance at end of year

173

154

Inventories

Equity Method Investments

The Company purchases inventory from Alliance Boots in the ordinary course of business. These related party inventory purchases, which began in fiscal 2013, were not material in fiscal 2014 or 2013.

Property and Equipment

2014

2013

Land and land improvements

Owned locations

3,059

3,203

Distribution centers

Other locations

266

219

Buildings and building improvements

Owned locations

3,927

3,805

Leased locations (leasehold improvements only)

2,041

1,811

Distribution centers

582

620

Other locations

351

Equipment

Locations

5,454

5,334

Distribution centers

1,170

1,190

Other locations

935

755

Capitalized system development costs

688

581

Capital lease properties

530

215

19,096

18,181

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

6,839

6,043

12,257

12,138

Depreciation expense for property and equipment was $923 million in fiscal 2014, $894 million in fiscal 2013 and $841 million in fiscal 2012.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Impaired Assets and Liabilities for Store Closings

Financial Instruments

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue at the time the customer takes possession of the merchandise. Customer returns are immaterial. Sales taxes are not included in revenue.

Gift Cards

Loyalty Program

Cost of Sales

Vendor Allowances

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Advertising Costs

Insurance Policy

Insurance

Available-for-Sale Investments

Warrants

Preopening Expense Policy

Pre-Opening Expenses

Non-capital expenditures incurred prior to the opening of a new or remodeled store are expensed as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

Interest Expense

Income Taxes

Earnings Per Share

New Accounting Pronouncements

Summary_of_Major_Accounting_Po2

Summary of Major Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Summary of Major Accounting Policies (Tables)	Aug. 31, 2014
Summary of Major Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	'
	The provision for bad debt is based on both historical write-off percentages and specifically identified receivables. Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts was as follows (in millions):

		2014			2013			2012
	Balance at beginning of year	$	154		$	99		$	101
	Bad debt provision		86			124			107
	Write-offs		(67	)		(69	)		(109	)
	Balance at end of year	$	173		$	154		$	99
Schedule of property, plant and equipment	'
	Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of owned assets. Leasehold improvements and leased properties under capital leases are amortized over the estimated useful life of the property or over the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. Estimated useful lives range from 10 to 39 years for land improvements, buildings and building improvements; and 2 to 13 years for equipment. Major repairs, which extend the useful life of an asset, are capitalized; routine maintenance and repairs are charged against earnings. The majority of the business uses the composite method of depreciation for equipment. Therefore, gains and losses on retirement or other disposition of such assets are included in earnings only when an operating location is closed, completely remodeled or impaired. Fully depreciated property and equipment are removed from the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization accounts. Property and equipment consists of (in millions):

		2014			2013
	Land and land improvements
	Owned locations	$	3,059		$	3,203
	Distribution centers		93			97
	Other locations		266			219
	Buildings and building improvements
	Owned locations		3,927			3,805
	Leased locations (leasehold improvements only)		2,041			1,811
	Distribution centers		582			620
	Other locations		351			351
	Equipment
	Locations		5,454			5,334
	Distribution centers		1,170			1,190
	Other locations		935			755
	Capitalized system development costs		688			581
	Capital lease properties		530			215
			19,096			18,181
	Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		6,839			6,043
		$	12,257		$	12,138

Leases_Tables

Leases (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Leases (Tables)	Aug. 31, 2014
Leases [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments for Capital Lease and Operating Lease	'
	Minimum rental commitments at August 31, 2014, under all leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable term of more than one year are shown below (in millions):

		Financing Obligation			Capital Lease			Operating Lease
	2015	$	18		$	43		$	2,569
	2016		18			41			2,533
	2017		18			39			2,493
	2018		18			38			2,407
	2019		18			38			2,295
	Later		1,328			665			22,168
	Total minimum lease payments	$	1,418		$	864		$	34,465

	The capital and finance lease amounts include $1.5 billion of imputed interest and executory costs. Total minimum lease payments have not been reduced by minimum sublease rentals of approximately $141 million on leases due in the future under non-cancelable subleases.
Reserve for Facility Closings and Related Lease Termination Charges	'
	The changes in reserve for facility closings and related lease termination charges include the following (in millions):

		Year Ended
		August 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance – beginning of period	$	123		$	117
	Provision for present value of non-cancellable lease payments of closed facilities		171			34
	Assumptions about future sublease income, terminations and changes in interest rates		(8	)		(6	)
	Interest accretion		14			15
	Cash payments, net of sublease income		(43	)		(37	)
	Balance – end of period	$	257		$	123
Schedule of Rental Expense	'
	Rental expense, which includes common area maintenance, insurance and taxes, was as follows (in millions):

		2014			2013			2012
	Minimum rentals	$	2,687		$	2,644		$	2,585
	Contingent rentals		5			6			6
	Less: Sublease rental income		(22	)		(22	)		(20	)
		$	2,670		$	2,628		$	2,571

Equity_Method_Investments_Tabl

Equity Method Investments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Equity Method Investments (Tables)	Aug. 31, 2014
Equity Method Investments [Abstract]	'
Equity method investment	'
	Equity method investments as of August 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows (in millions, except percentages):

		2014						2013
		Carrying			Ownership			Carrying			Ownership
		Value			Percentage			Value			Percentage
	Alliance Boots		$	7,248		45	%		$	6,261		45	%
	Other equity method investments			74		30% - 50	%			7		30% - 50	%
	Total Equity Method Investments		$	7,322					$	6,268
Summarized balance sheet and income statement information of equity method investees	'
	Summarized financial information for the Company's equity method investees is as follows:

	Balance Sheet (in millions)

			At August 31,
			2014⁽¹⁾		2013⁽¹⁾
	Current Assets		$	8,768	$	8,906
	Non-Current Assets			21,525		19,484
	Current Liabilities			7,791		7,204
	Non-Current Liabilities			11,285		12,228
	Shareholders' Equity⁽²⁾			11,217		8,958

	Income Statement (in millions)

			Year Ended August 31,
			2014⁽³⁾		2013				2012
	Net sales		$	37,305	$	30,446			$	37
	Gross Profit			7,927		6,391				17
	Net Earnings			1,446		1,022				2
	Share of income from investments accounted for using the equity method⁽³⁾			618		345				1

	(1) Net assets in Alliance Boots are translated at the May 31, 2014 spot rate of $1.68 to one British pound Sterling, corresponding to the three-month lag. Fiscal 2013 net assets in Alliance Boots were translated at a spot rate of $1.52 to one British pound Sterling.
	(2) Shareholders' equity at August 31, 2014 and 2013, includes $257 million and $374 million related to non-controlling interests, respectively.
	(3) The Company utilizes a three-month lag in reporting its share of equity income in Alliance Boots. The fiscal year ended August 31, 2013 included only ten month's results for Alliance Boots because of the three-month lag and the timing of the investment on August 2, 2012, compared to twelve months results recorded in fiscal 2014. Earnings in Alliance Boots are translated at the average exchange rate of $1.61 and $1.57 to one British pound Sterling for the years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 respectively. Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH operations are excluded from these results as the Company consolidates the joint venture.

Goodwill_and_Intangibles_Table

Goodwill and Intangibles (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Goodwill and Intangibles (Tables)	Aug. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Intangibles [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Goodwill	'

	Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill consist of the following activity (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Net book value – September 1		$	2,410			$	2,161
	Acquisitions			58				236
	Sale of business			(92	)			-
	Other⁽¹⁾			(17	)			13
	Net book value – August 31		$	2,359			$	2,410

	-1	"Other" primarily represents immaterial purchase accounting adjustments for the Company's acquisitions.
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class	'
	The carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets consists of the following (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Gross Intangible Assets
	Purchased prescription files		$	1,079			$	1,099
	Favorable lease interests			382				381
	Purchasing and payer contracts			301				347
	Non-compete agreements			151				153
	Trade names			199				199
	Other amortizable intangible assets			4				4
	Total gross intangible assets			2,116				2,183

	Accumulated amortization
	Purchased prescription files			(474	)			(467	)
	Favorable lease interests			(174	)			(143	)
	Purchasing and payer contracts			(145	)			(147	)
	Non-compete agreements			(70	)			(67	)
	Trade names			(69	)			(49	)
	Other amortizable intangible assets			(4	)			(3	)
	Total accumulated amortization			(936	)			(876	)
	Total intangible assets, net		$	1,180			$	1,307
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense	'
	Expected amortization expense for intangible assets recorded at August 31, 2014, not including amounts related to Alliance Boots that will be amortized through equity method investment income, is as follows (in millions):

	2015				2016				2017			2018			2019
		$	250			$	210			$	167		$	129		$	106

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Tables)	Aug. 31, 2014
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign	'
	The components of Earnings Before Income Tax Provision were (in millions):

		2014			2013
	U.S.	$	3,386		$	3,477
	Non-U.S.		171			418
	Total	$	3,557		$	3,895

	The provision for income taxes consists of the following (in millions):
Provisions for income taxes and the difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and effective tax rate	'

		2014			2013			2012
	Current provision -
	Federal	$	1,207		$	1,122		$	890
	State		109			134			120
	Non-U.S.		35			15			-
			1,351			1,271			1,010
	Deferred provision -
	Federal		183			174			251
	State		(3	)		(2	)		(12	)
	Non-U.S.		(5	)		2			-
			175			174			239
	Income tax provision	$	1,526		$	1,445		$	1,249
Difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate	'
	The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate is as follows:

		2014			2013			2012
	Federal statutory rate		35	%		35	%		35	%
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit		1.9	%		2.2	%		2.1	%
	Loss on Alliance Boots call option⁽¹⁾		8.5	%		0	%		0	%
	Foreign income taxed at non-US rate		-3.1	%		-0.3	%		0	%
	Other		0.6	%		0.2	%		-0.1	%
	Effective income tax rate		42.9	%		37.1	%		37	%

	(1) Upon the amdendment and immediate exercise of the call option to acquire the reamining 55% ownership of Alliance Boots, the Company was required to copmare the fair value of the amended option with the book value of the original option with a gain or loss recognized for the difference. The fair value of the amended option resulted in a financial statement loss of $866 million. The loss on the Alliance Boots call option will be, in part, a capital loss and available to be carried forward and offset future capital gains through fiscal 2020. The loss also contributed to the increased valuation allowance amount reporting in the deferred income tax table below.
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'

	The deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following (in millions):

		2014			2013
	Deferred tax assets -
	Postretirement benefits	$	247		$	218
	Compensation and benefits		166			136
	Insurance		98			121
	Accrued rent		166			157
	Tax benefits		430			159
	Stock compensation		131			159
	Other		140			96
	Subtotal		1,378			1,046
	Less: Valuation allowance		223			19
	Total deferred tax assets		1,155			1,027
	Deferred tax liabilities -
	Accelerated depreciation		1,244			1,369
	Inventory		407			396
	Intangible assets		64			53
	Equity method investment		355			21
	Deferred income		208			4
	Subtotal		2,278			1,843
	Net deferred tax liabilities	$	1,123		$	816
Reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits	'
	The following table provides a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits (in millions):

		2014			2013			2012
	Balance at beginning of year	$	208		$	197		$	94
	Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period		55			18			100
	Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period		(82	)		(32	)		(49	)
	Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period		46			30			53
	Settlements with taxing authorities		(22	)		(2	)		(1	)
	Lapse of statute of limitations		(12	)		(3	)		-
	Balance at end of year	$	193		$	208		$	197

ShortTerm_Borrowings_and_LongT1

Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt (Tables)	Aug. 31, 2014
Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt [Abstract]	'
Short-Term Borrowings	'
	Short-term borrowings and long-term debt consist of the following at August 31 (in millions):


	Short-Term Borrowings -		2014				2013
	Current maturities of loans assumed through the purchase of land and buildings; various interest rates from 5.000% to 8.750%; various maturities from 2015 to 2035		$	8			$	2
	1.000% unsecured notes due 2015, net of unamortized discount			750				-
	Unsecured variable rate notes due 2014, net of unamortized discount			-				550
	Other			16				18
	Total short-term borrowings		$	774			$	570


Long-Term Debt	'
	Long-Term Debt -
	1.000% unsecured notes due 2015, net of unamortized discount			-				749
	1.800% unsecured notes due 2017, net of unamortized discount			999				998
	5.250% unsecured notes due 2019, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap fair market value adjustment (see Note 10)			1,010				994
	3.100% unsecured notes due 2022, net of unamortized discount			1,199				1,199
	4.400% unsecured notes due 2042, net of unamortized discount			496				496
	Loans assumed through the purchase of land and buildings; various interest rates from 5.000% to 8.750%; various maturities from 2015 to 2035			40				43
				3,744				4,479
	Less current maturities			(8	)			(2	)
	Total long-term debt		$	3,736			$	4,477
September 2012 Debt Issuance	'
	The following details each tranche of notes issued on September 13, 2012:

	Notes Issued			Maturity Date	Interest Rate	Interest Payment Dates
	(In millions)			Maturity Date	Interest Rate	Interest Payment Dates
	$	550		13-Mar-14	Variable; three-month U.S. Dollar LIBOR, reset quarterly, plus 50 basis points	March 13, June 13, September 13 and December 13; commencing on December 13, 2012
		750		13-Mar-15	Fixed 1.000%	March 13 and September 13; commencing on March 13, 2013
		1,000		15-Sep-17	Fixed 1.800%	March 15 and September 15; commencing on March 15, 2013
		1,200		15-Sep-22	Fixed 3.100%	March 15 and September 15; commencing on March 15, 2013
		500		15-Sep-42	Fixed 4.400%	March 15 and September 15; commencing on March 15, 2013
	$	4,000

	The Company paid in full its $550 million obligation that matured in March 2014. The Company may redeem the fixed rate notes at its option, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed; and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined), plus 12 basis points for the notes due 2015, 20 basis points for the notes due 2017, 22 basis points for the notes due 2022 and 25 basis points for the notes due 2042. If a change of control triggering event occurs, the Company will be required, unless it has exercised its right to redeem the notes, to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to the date of repurchase. The notes are unsecured senior debt obligations and rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. Total issuance costs relating to the notes, including underwriting discounts and fees, were $26 million. The fair value of the notes as of August 31, 2014 and 2013 was $3.4 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively. Fair value for these notes was determined based upon quoted market prices.

Financial_Instruments_Tables

Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Financial Instruments (Tables)	Aug. 31, 2014
Financial Instruments [Abstract]	'
Notional Amounts Of Derivative Instruments Outstanding	'
	The notional amounts of derivative instruments outstanding at August 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows (in millions):

		2014				2013
	Derivatives designated as fair value hedges:
	Interest rate swaps		$	1,000			$	1,000
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
	Forward interest rate swaps			1,500				-
Fair Value and Balance Sheet Presentation of Derivative Instruments	'
	The fair value and balance sheet presentation of derivative instruments at August 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows (in millions):

		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets	2014				2013
	Asset derivatives designated as hedges:
	Interest rate swaps	Other non-current assets		$	16			$	1
	Liability derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
	Forward interest rate swaps	Other non-current liabilities			44				-
Schedule of Derivative Assets at Fair Value	'

		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets	2014				2013
	Asset derivatives not designated as hedges:
	Warrants	Other non-current assets		$	553			$	188

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	Aug. 31, 2014
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
	-11	Fair Value Measurements

	The Company measures certain assets and liabilities in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In addition, it establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels:

	Level 1 -	Quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets and liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.
	Level 2 -	Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets.
	Level 3 -	Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

	Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows (in millions):

			31-Aug-14			Level 1				Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:
	Money market funds		$	1,879		$	1,879			$	-		$	-
	Interest rate swaps⁽¹⁾			16			-				16			-
	Investment in AmerisourceBergen⁽²⁾			887			887				-			-
	Warrants⁽³⁾			553			-				553			-
	Liabilities:
	Forward interest rate swaps⁽⁴⁾			44			-				44			-

			31-Aug-13			Level 1				Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:
	Money market funds		$	1,636		$	1,636			$	-		$	-
	Interest rate swaps⁽¹⁾			1			-				1			-
	Investment in AmerisourceBergen⁽²⁾			225			225				-			-
	Warrants⁽³⁾			188			-				188			-

	-1	Interest rate swaps are valued using the six-month and one-month LIBOR in arrears rates. See Note 10 for additional disclosure regarding financial instruments.
	-2	The investment in AmerisourceBergen Corporation is valued using the closing stock price of AmerisourceBergen as of the balance sheet dates. See Note 6 for additional disclosures on available-for-sale investments.
	-3	Warrants were valued using a Monte Carlo simulation. Key assumptions used in the valuation include risk-free interest rates using constant maturity treasury rates; the dividend yield for AmerisourceBergen's common stock; AmerisourceBergen's common stock price at the valuation date; AmerisourceBergen's equity volatility; the number of shares of AmerisourceBergen's common stock outstanding; the number of AmerisourceBergen employee stock options and the exercise price; and the details specific to the warrants.
	(4) Forward interest rate swaps are valued using three-month LIBOR in arrears rates. See Note 10 for additional disclosure regarding financial instruments.

			31-Aug-14		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:
	Alliance Boots call option		$	-	$	-		$	-		$	-

			31-Aug-13		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:
	Alliance Boots call option		$	839	$	-		$	-		$	839

	The call option was valued using a Monte Carlo simulation. Key assumptions used in the valuation include expected term, Walgreens equity value, the value of Alliance Boots and the potential impacts of certain provisions of the Purchase and Option Agreement dated June 18, 2012, by and among the Company, Alliance Boots and AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited. The option was amended, and exercised, on August 5, 2014, resulting in a new fair value determination that resulted in a loss on the option of $866 million.
	The Company reports its debt instruments under the guidance of ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, which requires disclosure of the fair value of the Company's debt in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements. See Note 9 for further details.
Fair Value Measurements, Nonrecurring	'

			31-Aug-14		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:
	Alliance Boots call option		$	-	$	-		$	-		$	-

			31-Aug-13		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:
	Alliance Boots call option		$	839	$	-		$	-		$	839

	The call option was valued using a Monte Carlo simulation. Key assumptions used in the valuation include expected term, Walgreens equity value, the value of Alliance Boots and the potential impacts of certain provisions of the Purchase and Option Agreement dated June 18, 2012, by and among the Company, Alliance Boots and AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited. The option was amended, and exercised, on August 5, 2014, resulting in a new fair value determination that resulted in a loss on the option of $866 million.
	The Company reports its debt instruments under the guidance of ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, which requires disclosure of the fair value of the Company's debt in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements. See Note 9 for further details.

Capital_Stock_Tables

Capital Stock (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Capital Stock (Tables)	Aug. 31, 2014
Capital Stock [Abstract]	'
Stock repurchase program	'

		Fiscal Year Ended
		2014			2013			2012
	2012 stock repurchase program		$	-		$	-		$	1,151
	2014 stock repurchase program			-			-			-
			$	-		$	-		$	1,151

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Table

Stock Compensation Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Stock Compensation Plans (Tables)	Aug. 31, 2014
Stock Compensation Plans [Abstract]	'
Stock Option Plans	'
	A summary of the equity awards authorized and available for future grants under the Omnibus Plan and Former Plans follows:

	Available for future grants at August 31, 2013			56,454,499
	Newly authorized options			-
	Granted			(11,209,853	)
	Cancellation and forfeitures			1,417,145
	Plan termination			1,690,451
	Available for future grants at August 31, 2014			48,352,242

	A summary of the Company's stock options outstanding under the Omnibus Plan and Former Plans follows:

	Options		Shares			Weighted-			Weighted-			Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions)
	Options		Shares			Average Exercise Price			Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)			Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions)
	Outstanding at August 31, 2013			41,216,173		$	34.69			6.14		$	548
	Granted			6,744,582			60.7
	Exercised			(13,832,509	)		35.47
	Expired/Forfeited			(2,211,422	)		42.54
	Outstanding at August 31, 2014			31,916,824		$	39.28			6.4		$	674
	Unvested at August 31, 2014			18,869,912		$	43.33			7.93		$	326
	Exercisable at August 31, 2014			12,433,713		$	32.97			4.04		$	343

	The fair value of each option grant was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012:
Assumptions Used to Determined Fair Value of Each Option Grant Using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model	'

			2014			2013			2012
	Risk-free interest rate⁽¹⁾			1.98	%		1.15	%		1.73	%
	Average life of option (years)⁽²⁾			6.9			7			7.9
	Volatility⁽³⁾			26.27	%		24.94	%		27.02	%
	Dividend yield⁽⁴⁾			2.48	%		2.44	%		2.9	%
	Weighted-average grant-date fair value		$	12.88		$	6.75		$	8.08

	-1	Represents the U.S. Treasury security rates for the expected term of the option.
	-2	Represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The Company analyzed separate groups of employees with similar exercise behavior to determine the expected term.
	-3	Volatility was based on historical and implied volatility of the Company's common stock.
	-4	Represents the Company's cash dividend for the expected term.
Restricted Stock Awards and Stock Unit Plan	'
	A summary of information relative to the Company's restricted stock units follows:

	Outstanding Shares		Shares			Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
	Outstanding at August 31, 2013			3,497,838		$	41.57
	Granted			679,658			60.76
	Dividends			79,073			-
	Forfeited			(265,651	)		43.63
	Vested			(710,851	)		35.09
	Outstanding at August 31, 2014			3,280,067		$	45.4
Summary information relative to the Performance Share Plan	'
	A summary of information relative to the Company's performance shares follows:

	Outstanding Shares		Shares			Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
	Outstanding at August 31, 2013			2,217,610		$	32.99
	Granted			615,921			65.08
	Forfeited			(163,473	)		44.01
	Vested			(606,926	)		28.31
	Outstanding at August 31, 2014			2,063,132		$	44.85

	The Company also issues shares to nonemployee directors. Each director receives an equity grant of shares every year on November 1. The number of shares granted is determined by dividing $175,000 by the price of a share of common stock on November 1. Each nonemployee director may elect to receive this annual share grant in the form of shares or deferred stock units. In fiscal 2014, nonemployee directors received a share grant of 2,892 shares compared to 4,789 shares and 4,788 shares in fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively. New directors in any fiscal year earned a prorated amount. Payment of the annual retainer is paid in the form of cash, which may be deferred.
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan	'
	A summary of total stock-based compensation expense follows (in millions):

			2014			2013			2012
	Stock options		$	52		$	51		$	62
	Restricted stock units			48			33			24
	Performance shares			8			15			7
	Share Walgreens			6			5			6
			$	114		$	104		$	99

Retirement_Benefits_Tables

Retirement Benefits (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Retirement Benefits (Tables)	Aug. 31, 2014
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]	'
Net Benefit Costs	'
	Components of net periodic benefit costs (in millions):

			2014				2013			2012
	Service cost		$	8			$	9		$	13
	Interest cost			17				14			22
	Amortization of actuarial loss			11				12			8
	Amortization of prior service cost			(23	)			(22	)		(10	)
	Total postretirement benefit cost		$	13			$	13		$	33
Accumulated and Projected Benefit Obligations	'
	Change in benefit obligation (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Benefit obligation at September 1		$	350			$	342
	Service cost			8				9
	Interest cost			17				14
	Amendments			(23	)			-
	Actuarial loss (gain)			88				(1	)
	Benefit payments			(19	)			(20	)
	Participants' contributions			6				6
	Benefit obligation at August 31		$	427			$	350
Changes in Fair Value of Plan Assets	'
	Change in plan assets (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Plan assets at fair value at September 1		$	-			$	-
	Participants' contributions			6				6
	Employer contributions			13				14
	Benefits paid			(19	)			(20	)
	Plan assets at fair value at August 31		$	-			$	-
Net Funded Status	'
	Funded status (in millions):

		2014				2013
	Funded status at August 31		$	(427	)		$	(350	)
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	'
	Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Current liabilities (present value of expected 2015 net benefit payments)		$	(11	)		$	(10	)
	Non-current liabilities			(416	)			(340	)
	Net liability recognized at August 31		$	(427	)		$	(350	)
Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss (in millions):

			2014				2013
	Prior service credit		$	(228	)		$	(228	)
	Net actuarial loss			225				148
Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to be Recognized over Next Fiscal Year	'
	Amounts expected to be recognized as components of net periodic costs for fiscal year 2015 (in millions):

			2015
	Prior service credit		$	(24	)
	Net actuarial loss			19

	The measurement date used to determine postretirement benefits is August 31.
Effect of one percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rate	'

			1% Increase				1% Decrease
	Effect on service and interest cost		$	(1	)		$	1
	Effect on postretirement obligation			(3	)			7

	Estimated future federal subsidies are immaterial for all periods presented. Future benefit payments are as follows (in millions):
Estimated future benefit payments and federal subsidy	'

			Estimated Future Benefit Payments
	2015		$	12
	2016			13
	2017			14
	2018			16
	2019			17
	2020-2024			112

	The expected benefit to be paid net of the estimated federal subsidy during fiscal year 2015 is $12 million.

Supplementary_Financial_Inform1

Supplementary Financial Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Supplementary Financial Information (Tables)	Aug. 31, 2014
Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]	'
Assets and liabilities included in consolidated balance sheet captions	'
	Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets captions are the following assets and liabilities (in millions):

			2014			2013
	Accounts receivable -
	Accounts receivable		$	3,391		$	2,786
	Allowance for doubtful accounts (see Note 1)			(173	)		(154	)
			$	3,218		$	2,632
	Other non-current assets -
	Intangible assets, net (see Note 7)		$	1,180		$	1,307
	Investment in AmerisourceBergen			887			225
	Warrants			553			188
	Other			456			239
			$	3,076		$	1,959
	Accrued expenses and other liabilities -
	Accrued salaries		$	1,123		$	928
	Taxes other than income taxes			377			420
	Insurance			185			285
	Profit sharing			259			239
	Other			1,757			1,705
			$	3,701		$	3,577
	Other non-current liabilities -
	Postretirement healthcare benefits		$	416		$	340
	Accrued rent			409			382
	Insurance			428			403
	Other			1,689			942
			$	2,942		$	2,067

	Summary of Quarterly Results (Unaudited)
Summary of quarterly results	'
	(In millions, except per share amounts)

			Quarter Ended
			November			February			May			August			Fiscal Year
	Fiscal 2014
	Net Sales		$	18,329		$	19,605		$	19,401		$	19,057		$	76,392
	Gross Profit			5,152			5,650			5,440			5,327			21,569
	Net Earnings attributable to Walgreen Co.			695			754			722			(239	)		1,932
	Per Common Share -
	Basic		$	0.73		$	0.79		$	0.76		$	(0.25	)	$	2.03
	Diluted			0.72			0.78			0.75			(0.25	)		2
	Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share		$	0.315		$	0.315		$	0.315		$	0.3375		$	1.2825
	Fiscal 2013
	Net Sales		$	17,316		$	18,647		$	18,313		$	17,941		$	72,217
	Gross Profit			5,099			5,607			5,222			5,191			21,119
	Net Earnings			413			756			624			657			2,450
	Per Common Share -
	Basic		$	0.44		$	0.8		$	0.66		$	0.69		$	2.59
	Diluted			0.43			0.79			0.65			0.69			2.56
	Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share		$	0.275		$	0.275		$	0.275		$	0.315		$	1.14
Common stock price high and low sales price for each quarter.	'
	The following table sets forth the sales price ranges of the Company's common stock by quarter during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013 as reported by the Consolidated Transaction Reporting System.

				Quarter Ended
				November			February			May			August			Fiscal Year
	Fiscal 2014	High		$	60.93		$	69.84		$	71.97		$	76.39		$	76.39
	Low				48.18			54.86			62.8			57.75			48.18
	Fiscal 2013	High		$	36.95		$	41.95		$	50.77		$	51.26		$	51.26
	Low				32.16			34.27			39.96			44.12			32.16

Summary_of_Major_Accounting_Po3

Summary of Major Accounting Policies (Details)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2012

Aug. 31, 2014

Mar. 18, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2012

USD ($)

GBP (£)

USD ($)

Land and Land Improvements [Member]

Building and Building Improvements [Member]

Equipment [Member]

Capitalized System Development Costs [Member]

Capital Lease Properties [Member]

Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]

Party

Owned Locations [Member]

Distribution Centers [Member]

Other Locations [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Owned Locations [Member]

Distribution Centers [Member]

Other Locations [Member]

Leased Location (Leasehold Improvement) [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Owned Locations [Member]

Distribution Centers [Member]

Other Locations [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

USD ($)

State

USD ($)

Stores

Summary of Major Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Number of Reportable Segments

Number of drugstores and other locations (in stores)

8,309

Number of states that have store locations

Prescription sales as a percentage of total sales (in hundredths)

64.20%

62.90%

63.20%

Percentage ownership in Alliance Boots

45.00%

Direct Ownership in Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH

50.00%

Total Ownership In Walgreens Boots Alliance Development Gmbh

72.50%

Credit and debit card receivables

$229,000,000

$160,000,000

Money market funds

1,900,000,000

1,600,000,000

Days for credit and debit card receivables to settle

Outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit at certain banks

267,000,000

274,000,000

Number of Years to Recognize Breakage Income

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable

Balance at beginning of year

154,000,000

99,000,000

101,000,000

Bad debt provision

86,000,000

124,000,000

107,000,000

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Write-offs

-67,000,000

-69,000,000

-109,000,000

Balance at end of year

173,000,000

154,000,000

99,000,000

Outstanding letters of credit that guarantee foreign trade purchases

151,000,000

197,000,000

Outstanding letters of credit that guarantee payments of insurance claims

259,000,000

263,000,000

Outstanding letters of credit that guarantee performance of construction contracts

9,000,000

4,000,000

Real estate development purchase commitments

169,000,000

185,000,000

Value of debt converted from fixed to variable rate

1,000,000,000

Amount of Anticipated Debt Hedged as Cash Flow Hedge

1,500,000,000

Inventory increase in carrying amount if valued on FIFO basis

2,300,000,000

2,100,000,000

LIFO liquidation

187,000,000

194,000,000

268,000,000

Goodwill subject to impairment in an equity method investee

255,000,000

Companys share of goodwill subject to impairment in an equity method investee

193,000,000

115,000,000

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

Property and equipment

19,096,000,000

18,181,000,000

3,059,000,000

3,203,000,000

93,000,000

97,000,000

266,000,000

219,000,000

3,927,000,000

3,805,000,000

582,000,000

620,000,000

351,000,000

2,041,000,000

1,811,000,000

5,454,000,000

5,334,000,000

1,170,000,000

1,190,000,000

935,000,000

755,000,000

688,000,000

581,000,000

530,000,000

215,000,000

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

6,839,000,000

6,043,000,000

Property and equipment, net

12,257,000,000

12,138,000,000

Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life

'10 years

'39 years

'10 years

'39 years

'2 years

'13 years

'5 years

Depreciation expense for property and equipment

923,000,000

894,000,000

841,000,000

Internally developed software amortization

111,000,000

100,000,000

70,000,000

Unamortized capitalized software costs

410,000,000

374,000,000

Impairment charges included in selling, general and administrative expenses

167,000,000

30,000,000

27,000,000

Reserve for store closings

257,000,000

123,000,000

Minimum life of Stores to be Reviewed for Impairment

Reserve for Store closings related to Optimization Plan

137,000,000

Net advertising expenses

265,000,000

286,000,000

291,000,000

Vendor advertising allowances

256,000,000

240,000,000

239,000,000

AmerisourceBergen Corporation [Line Items]

First warrant to purchase shares

11,348,456

First warrant to purchase per share

$51.50

Second warrant to purchase shares

11,348,456

Second warrant to purchase per share

$52.50

Fair value of AmerisourceBergen warrants

553,000,000

188,000,000

77,000,000

Change in fair value of AmerisourceBergen warrants

366,000,000

111,000,000

Amortization of AmerisourceBergen warrants

19,000,000

9,000,000

Date of AmerisourceBergen Corporation deal

18-Mar-13

Number of shares eligible for purchase

19,859,795

Percentage of fully diluted equity eligible for purchase

7.00%

Number of Shares classified as Available for Sale

11,500,000

First option exercise date

1-Mar-16

Second option exercise date

1-Mar-17

Total stock-based compensation expense

114,000,000

104,000,000

99,000,000

Recognized tax benefit, stock-based compensation

31,000,000

30,000,000

9,000,000

Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested awards

188,000,000

Outstanding options to purchase common shares excluded from earnings per share calculations (in shares)

3,510,395

12,316,949

32,593,870

Capitalized interest as a part of significant construction projects

6,000,000

7,000,000

9,000,000

Interest paid, net of capitalized interest

$161,000,000

$158,000,000

$108,000,000

Restructuring_Details

Restructuring (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
	Stores	Severance and other benefits [Member]	Maximum [Member]	Minimum [Member]	Optimization Asset Impairment [Member]	Project cancellation settlements [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Pre-tax charges associated with Company's restructuring initiatives	$209	$1	$280	$240	$71	$137
Optimization Initiative [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of stores converted to date	67	'	'	'	'	'

Leases_Details

Leases (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
	Lease	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Leases [Abstract]	'	'	'
Percentage of operating locations (in hundredths)	20.00%	'	'
Initial term of operating lease, lower range	'20	'	'
Initial term of operating lease, upper range	'25	'	'
Executory costs and imputed interest	$1,500,000,000	'	'
Minimum sublease rentals	141,000,000	'	'
Charges related to facilities that were closed or relocated	177,000,000	43,000,000	20,000,000
Number of assigned leases (in number of lease)	20	'	'
Maximum potential undiscounted future payments	33,000,000	'	'
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]	'	'	'
2015	43,000,000	'	'
2016	41,000,000	'	'
2017	39,000,000	'	'
2018	38,000,000	'	'
2019	38,000,000	'	'
Later	665,000,000	'	'
Total minimum lease payments	864,000,000	'	'
Financing Leases Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]	'	'	'
2015	18,000,000	'	'
2016	18,000,000	'	'
2017	18,000,000	'	'
2018	18,000,000	'	'
2019	18,000,000	'	'
Later	1,328,000,000	'	'
Total Minimum Lease Payments	1,418,000,000	'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]	'	'	'
2015	2,569,000,000	'	'
2016	2,533,000,000	'	'
2017	2,493,000,000	'	'
2018	2,407,000,000	'	'
2019	2,295,000,000	'	'
Later	22,168,000,000	'	'
Total minimum lease payments	34,465,000,000	'	'
Changes in Reserve for Facility Closings and Related Lease Termination Charges [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Balance - beginning of period	123,000,000	'	117,000,000
Provision for present value of non-cancellable lease payments of closed facilities	171,000,000	34,000,000	'
Assumptions about future sublease income, terminations, and changes in interest rates	-8,000,000	-6,000,000	'
Interest accretion	14,000,000	15,000,000	'
Cash payments, net of sublease income	-43,000,000	-37,000,000	'
Balance - end of period	257,000,000	123,000,000	'
Rent Expense, Net [Abstract]	'	'	'
Minimum rentals	2,687,000,000	2,644,000,000	2,585,000,000
Contingent rentals	5,000,000	6,000,000	6,000,000
Less: Sublease rental income	-22,000,000	-22,000,000	-20,000,000
Total rental expense	$2,670,000,000	$2,628,000,000	$2,571,000,000

Acquisitions_Details

Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Sep. 18, 2012	Dec. 15, 2012	Aug. 31, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	CHSHealthServices [Member]	Kerr Drug [Member]	Kerr Drug [Member]	Usa Drug Acquisition [Member]	Cystic Fibrosis Foundation LLC [Member]	All business and intangible asset acquisitions, excluding Kerr Drug [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'	$54	$156	$21	$119
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net	'	'	'	'	'	74	'	'	'
Goodwill	2,359	2,410	2,161	'	'	45	220	16	13
Number Of Stores Acquired	'	'	'	'	76	'	'	'	'
Net cash paid	'	'	'	'	'	173	436	29	171
Percentage acquired (in hundredths)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	80.00%	'
Other Significant Noncash Transaction, Value of Consideration Received	'	'	'	67	'	'	'	'	'
Remaining ownership subject to call option (in hundredths)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	20.00%	'
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Inventory	'	'	'	'	'	'	$60	'	'

Equity_Method_Investments_Equi

Equity Method Investments, Equity Method Investment (Details) (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Carrying value	$7,248	$6,261
Alliance Boots [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Carrying value	7,248	6,261
Ownership percentage (in hundredths)	45.00%	45.00%
Other equity method investments [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Carrying value	74	7
Other equity method investments [Member] \| Minimum [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Ownership percentage (in hundredths)	30.00%	30.00%
Other equity method investments [Member] \| Maximum [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Ownership percentage (in hundredths)	50.00%	50.00%
Total [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Carrying value	$7,322	$6,268

Equity_Method_Investments_Deta

Equity Method Investments (Details)	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	31-May-14	31-May-13	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2014
	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)			Alliance Boots [Member]	Alliance Boots [Member]	Alliance Boots [Member]	Alliance Boots [Member]
						USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	GBP (£)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash paid to acquire investment	$0	$0	$4,025,000,000	'	'	'	'	$4,025,000,000	'
Shares issued for Investment in Alliance Boots (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	83,400,000	'
Remaining ownership subject to call option (in hundredths)	'	'	'	'	'	0.55	'	'	'
Cash price to exercise call option	'	'	'	'	'	5,200,000,000	'	'	3,100,000,000
Shares to be issued upon exercise of call option (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	144,300,000	'	'	'
Exercise dates	'March 1, 2016	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Reduced ownership percentage if call option is not exercised (in hundredths)	'	'	'	'	'	42.00%	'	'	'
Fair value of call option	0	839,000,000	'	'	'	'	866,000,000	'	'
Final purchase price allocation, excluding call option	'	'	'	'	'	6,100,000,000	'	'	'
Lag period for financial reporting of equity method investee	'	'	'	'	'	'3 months	'	'	'
Alliance Boots, Number of months results included in fiscal year	'	'	'	'	'	'10 months	'	'	'
Incremental acquisition related amortization	'	'	'	'	'	42,000,000	57,000,000	'	'
Alliance Boots excess purchase price	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,400,000,000	'	'
Non-controlling interests	257,000,000	374,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Translation rate (1 GBP to USD)	1.61	1.57	'	1.68	1.52	'	'	'	'
Non-cash impact of UK tax rule change	$71,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Equity_Method_Investments_Summ

Equity Method Investments, Summarized Balance Sheet and Income Statement Information of Equity Method Investees (Details)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014		Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2014
	USD ($)		USD ($)		USD ($)	GBP (£)
Balance Sheet [Abstract]	'		'		'	'
Current assets	$8,768	[1]	$8,906	[1]	'	'
Noncurrent assets	21,525	[1]	19,484	[1]	'	'
Current liabilities	7,791	[1]	7,204	[1]	'	'
Noncurrent liabilities	11,285	[1]	12,228	[1]	'	'
Shareholders' Equity	11,217	[1],[2]	8,958	[1],[2]	'	'
Goodwill subject to impairment in an equity method investee	'		'		'	255
Income Statement [Abstract]	'		'		'	'
Net sales	37,305	[3]	30,446		37	'
Gross Profit	7,927	[3]	6,391		17	'
Net earnings	1,446	[3]	1,022		2	'
Share of income from investments accounted for using the equity method	$618	[3]	$345		$1	'

[1]	Net assets in Alliance Boots are translated at the May 31, 2014 spot rate of $1.68 to one British pound Sterling, corresponding to the three-month lag. Fiscal 2013 net assets in Alliance Boots were translated at a spot rate of $1.52 to one British pound Sterling.
[2]	Shareholders' equity at August 31, 2014 and 2013, includes $257 million and $374 million related to non-controlling interests, respectively.
[3]	The Company utilizes a three-month lag in reporting its share of equity income in Alliance Boots. The fiscal year ended August 31, 2013 included only ten month's results for Alliance Boots because of the three-month lag and the timing of the investment on August 2, 2012, compared to twelve months results recorded in fiscal 2014. Earnings in Alliance Boots are translated at the average exchange rate of $1.61 and $1.57 to one British pound Sterling for the years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 respectively. Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH operations are excluded from these results as the Company consolidates the joint venture.

AvailableforSale_Investments_D

Available-for-Sale Investments (Details) (AmerisourceBergen Common Stock [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
AmerisourceBergen Common Stock [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Purchase price of shares	$493	$224
Unrealized holding gains on Available-for-sale investment	170	1
Available-for-sale investments at fair value	$887	$225

Goodwill_and_Intangibles_Detai

Goodwill and Intangibles (Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2012

Aug. 31, 2014

Nov. 30, 2013

Aug. 31, 2013

Sep. 18, 2012

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Dec. 15, 2012

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Kerr Drug [Member]

Usa Drug Acquisition [Member]

TakeCareEmployerSolutions [Member]

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation LLC [Member]

Purchased Prescription File [Member]

Lease Agreements [Member]

Purchasing and Payer Contract [Member]

Non-compete Agreements [Member]

Trade Names [Member]

Other Amortizable Intangible Assets [Member]

Goodwill and Intangibles [Abstract]

Percentage by which fair value exceeds carrying amount, minimum (in hundredths)

12.00%

Percentage by which fair value exceeds carrying amount, more than this percentage, maximum (in hundredths)

117.00%

Goodwill [Roll Forward]

Net book value - September 1

$2,410

$2,161

$45

$220

$16

Acquisitions

236

220

Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit

-92

Other

-17

[1]

Net book value - August 31

2,359

2,410

2,161

220

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]

Gross Intangible Assets

2,116

2,183

1,079

1,099

382

381

301

347

151

153

199

Accumulated amortization

-936

-876

-474

-467

-174

-143

-145

-147

-70

-67

-69

-49

-4

-3

Intangible assets, Net

1,180

1,307

Amortization expense for intangible assets

282

289

255

Weighted-average amortization period (in years)

'6 years

'7 years

'11 years

'13 years

'5 years

'6 years

'12 years

'8 years

'10 years

Estimated annual intangible assets amortization expense [Abstract]

2015

250

2016

210

2017

167

2018

129

2019

106

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Business Combination, Consideration Transferred

173

436

Goodwill, Acquired During Period

236

220

Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired

Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage

80.00%

Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit

($92)

$92

[1]

bOtherb primarily represents immaterial purchase accounting adjustments for the Companybs acquisitions.

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	$3,386	$3,477	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Foreign	171	418	'
Earnings Before Income Tax Provision	3,557	3,895	'
Equity earnings in Alliance Boots	617	344	0
Nondeductible Loss on Exercise of Call Option	866	0	0
Capital Loss on Option Carryforward, Expiration Date	1-Jan-20	'	'
Current provision [Abstract]	'	'	'
Federal	1,207	1,122	890
State	109	134	120
Current Foreign Tax Expense (Benefit)	35	15	0
Total Current Provisions for income taxes	1,351	1,271	1,010
Deferred provision [Abstract]	'	'	'
Federal	183	174	251
State	-3	-2	-12
Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	-5	2	0
Total Deferred Provision for income taxes	175	174	239
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	1,526	1,445	1,249
Difference between statutory federal income tax rate and effective tax rate [Abstract]	'	'	'
Federal statutory rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	1.90%	2.20%	2.10%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential, Percent	-3.10%	-0.30%	0.00%
Loss on Alliance Boots call option	8.50%	0.00%	0.00%
Other	0.60%	0.20%	-0.10%
Effective income tax rate	42.90%	37.10%	37.00%
Deferred tax assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Postretirement benefits	247	218	'
Compensation and benefits	166	136	'
Insurance	98	121	'
Accrued rent	166	157	'
Tax benefits	430	159	'
Stock compensation	131	159	'
Other	140	96	'
Subtotal deferred tax assets	1,378	1,046	'
Less: Valuation Allowance	223	19	'
Total Deferred Tax Assets	1,155	1,027	'
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Accelerated depreciation	1,244	1,369	'
Inventory	407	396	'
Intangible assets	64	53	'
Equity method investment	355	21	'
Other	208	4	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross	2,278	1,843	'
Total Deferred Tax Liabilities	1,123	816	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards	430	'	'
Income taxes paid	1,200	1,200	1,200
Unrecognized tax benefit reported in current income tax liabilities	32	'	'
Balance at beginning of year	208	197	94
Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period	55	18	100
Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period	-82	-32	-49
Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period	46	30	53
Settlements with taxing authorities	-22	-2	-1
Lapse of statute of limitations	-12	-3	0
Balance at end of year	193	208	197
Unrecognized tax benefits would favorably impact the effective tax rate if recognized	105	116	118
Accrued Interest and penalties in income tax provision	21	28	'
Unrecorded Deferred Tax Liability For Temporary Differences from Foreign Subsidiaries	85	'	'
Number of months of increase(decrease) in unrecognized tax benefit with respect to uncertain unrecognized tax positions (in months)	'12	'	'
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date	1-Jan-15	'	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date	1-Jan-33	'	'
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards	1,000	'	'
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$713	'	'

ShortTerm_Borrowings_and_LongT2

Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Minimum interest rate (in hundredths)	5.00%	'
Maximum interest rate (in hundredths)	8.75%	'
Maturity date start	1-Jan-15	'
Maturity date end	1-Jan-35	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'
Maximum borrowing capacity	$1,350,000,000	'
Covenant terms	'The covenants require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios related to minimum net worth and priority debt, along with limitations on the sale of assets and purchases of investments.	'
Covenant compliance	'At August 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants.	'
Facility fee description	'The Company pays a facility fee to the financing banks to keep these lines of credit active.	'
Letters of credit issued	0	'
Short-Term Borrowings [Abstract]	'	'
Commercial Paper	0	'
Average daily short-term borrowings	4,000,000	'
Weighted-average interest rate (in hundredths)	0.23%	'
Syndicated Line of Credit Expiring 2015 [Member]	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'
Maximum borrowing capacity	500,000,000	'
Expiration date	20-Jul-15	'
Maximum letter of credit amount allowed for issuance to reduce the amount available for borrowing	250,000,000	'
Syndicated Line of Credit Expiring 2017 [Member]	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'
Maximum borrowing capacity	850,000,000	'
Expiration date	23-Jul-17	'
Maximum letter of credit amount allowed for issuance to reduce the amount available for borrowing	200,000,000	'
Notes Payable, Due 2014 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment	550,000,000	'
Basis points added to treasury rate to calculate redemption rate	50	'
Notes due 2019 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.25%	'
Maturity date of note	15-Jan-19	'
Issuance date of note	13-Jan-09	'
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment	'semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15	'
Date of first payment	15-Jul-09	'
Debt Instrument, Call Feature	'The Company may redeem the notes, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at its option at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed; or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest, discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis at the Treasury Rate, plus 45 basis points, plus accrued interest on the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the date of redemption.	'
Line of Credit Facility, Fair Value, Basis for Measurement	'Fair value for these notes was determined based upon quoted market prices.	'
Percentage of principal amount of notes company may redeem	100.00%	'
Basis points added to treasury rate to calculate redemption rate	45	'
Percentage of principal amount required on triggering event to repurchase notes (in hundredths)	101.00%	'
Total issuance costs	8,000,000	'
Fair value of the notes	1,100,000,000	1,100,000,000
Notes Due 2017 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	1.80%	'
Maturity date of note	15-Sep-17	'
Basis points added to treasury rate to calculate redemption rate	20	'
Notes Due 2022 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	3.10%	'
Maturity date of note	15-Sep-22	'
Notes Due 2042 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	4.40%	'
Maturity date of note	15-Sep-42	'
Total $4.0 billion debt issuance [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Issuance date of note	13-Sep-12	'
Debt Instrument, Call Feature	'The Company may redeem the fixed rate notes at its option, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed; and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined), plus 12 basis points for the notes due 2015, 20 basis points for the notes due 2017, 22 basis points for the notes due 2022 and 25 basis points for the notes due 2042.	'
Line of Credit Facility, Fair Value, Basis for Measurement	'Fair value for these notes was determined based upon quoted market prices.	'
Total issuance costs	26,000,000	'
Fair value of the notes	3,400,000,000	3,900,000,000
Unsecured debt [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Face amount of notes issued	4,000,000,000	'
Issuance date of note	13-Mar-14	'
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Payable, Due 2014 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Maturity date of note	13-Mar-14	'
Face amount of notes issued	550,000,000	'
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment	'March 13, June 13, September 13 and December 13; commencing on December 13, 2012	'
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes due 2019 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Basis points added to treasury rate to calculate redemption rate	12	'
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2015 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	1.00%	'
Maturity date of note	13-Mar-15	'
Face amount of notes issued	750,000,000	'
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment	'March 13 and September 13; commencing on March 13, 2013	'
Basis points added to treasury rate to calculate redemption rate	22	'
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2017 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	1.80%	'
Maturity date of note	15-Sep-17	'
Face amount of notes issued	1,000,000,000	'
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment	'March 15 and September 15; commencing on March 15, 2013	'
Basis points added to treasury rate to calculate redemption rate	25	'
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2022 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	3.10%	'
Maturity date of note	15-Sep-22	'
Face amount of notes issued	1,200,000,000	'
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment	'March 15 and September 15; commencing on March 15, 2013	'
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2042 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	4.40%	'
Maturity date of note	15-Sep-42	'
Face amount of notes issued	$500,000,000	'
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment	'March 15 and September 15; commencing on March 15, 2013	'
Loans payable [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of principal amount of notes company may redeem	100.00%	'
Percentage of principal amount required on triggering event to repurchase notes (in hundredths)	101.00%	'

ShortTerm_Borrowings_and_LongT3

Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt, Short-Term Borrowings (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Short-term Debt [Line Items]	'	'
Current maturities of loans assumed through the purchase of land, buildings and equipment	$8	$2
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	5.00%	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	8.75%	'
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start	1-Jan-15	'
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	1-Jan-35	'
Total short-term borrowings	774	570
Other Short Term Debt [Member]	'	'
Short-term Debt [Line Items]	'	'
Other short term borrowings	16	18
Notes due 2019 [Member]	'	'
Short-term Debt [Line Items]	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.25%	'
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	15-Jan-19	'
Notes Due 2014 [Member]	'	'
Short-term Debt [Line Items]	'	'
Unsecured variable rate notes due 2014, net of unamortized discount	0	550
Notes Due 2015 [Member]	'	'
Short-term Debt [Line Items]	'	'
1.000% unsecured notes due 2015 net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap fair market value adjustment	$750	$0
Notes Due 2017 [Member]	'	'
Short-term Debt [Line Items]	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	1.80%	'
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	15-Sep-17	'
Notes Due 2022 [Member]	'	'
Short-term Debt [Line Items]	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.10%	'
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	15-Sep-22	'
Notes Due 2042 [Member]	'	'
Short-term Debt [Line Items]	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.40%	'
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	15-Sep-42	'

ShortTerm_Borrowings_and_LongT4

Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt, Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]	'	'
Long-term debt	$3,744	$4,479
Current maturities	-8	-2
Total-long term debt	3,736	4,477
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes due 2019 [Member]	'	'
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]	'	'
Carrying value of notes, net of discount and FMV adjustment, if applicable	1,010	994
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2015 [Member]	'	'
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]	'	'
Carrying value of notes, net of discount and FMV adjustment, if applicable	0	749
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2017 [Member]	'	'
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]	'	'
Carrying value of notes, net of discount and FMV adjustment, if applicable	999	998
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2022 [Member]	'	'
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]	'	'
Carrying value of notes, net of discount and FMV adjustment, if applicable	1,199	1,199
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2042 [Member]	'	'
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]	'	'
Carrying value of notes, net of discount and FMV adjustment, if applicable	496	496
Loans payable [Member] \| Assumed loans [Member]	'	'
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]	'	'
Loans assumed through the purchase of land and buildings	$40	$43

ShortTerm_Borrowings_and_LongT5

Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt, September 2012 Debt Issuance (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014
Notes Due 2017 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Maturity date of note	15-Sep-17
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	1.80%
Notes Due 2022 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Maturity date of note	15-Sep-22
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	3.10%
Notes Due 2042 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Maturity date of note	15-Sep-42
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	4.40%
Unsecured debt [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Face amount of notes issued	4,000
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2014 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Face amount of notes issued	550
Maturity date of note	13-Mar-14
Interest payment frequency	'March 13, June 13, September 13 and December 13; commencing on December 13, 2012
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2015 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Face amount of notes issued	750
Maturity date of note	13-Mar-15
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	1.00%
Interest payment frequency	'March 13 and September 13; commencing on March 13, 2013
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2017 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Face amount of notes issued	1,000
Maturity date of note	15-Sep-17
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	1.80%
Interest payment frequency	'March 15 and September 15; commencing on March 15, 2013
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2022 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Face amount of notes issued	1,200
Maturity date of note	15-Sep-22
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	3.10%
Interest payment frequency	'March 15 and September 15; commencing on March 15, 2013
Unsecured debt [Member] \| Notes Due 2042 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Face amount of notes issued	500
Maturity date of note	15-Sep-42
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	4.40%
Interest payment frequency	'March 15 and September 15; commencing on March 15, 2013

Financial_Instruments_Details

Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash Flow Hedges Derivative Instruments at Fair Value, Net	$27,000,000	$0	$0
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date, Description	'expected maturity tenures of 10 and 30 years.	'	'
Amount of Anticipated Debt Issuance	1,500,000,000	'	'
Net unamortized fair value changes in long-term debt	12,000,000	-3,000,000	'
AmerisourceBergen Corporation [Line Items]	'	'	'
Option exercise date, beginning date of 6-month period	'March 1, 2016	'	'
First warrant to purchase shares	11,348,456	'	'
First warrant to purchase per share	$51.50	'	'
Second warrant to purchase shares	11,348,456	'	'
Second option exercise date	1-Mar-17	'	'
Second warrant to purchase per share	$52.50	'	'
Date of AmerisourceBergen Corporation deal	18-Mar-13	'	'
Number of shares eligible for purchase	19,859,795	'	'
Percentage of fully diluted equity eligible for purchase	7.00%	'	'
one-month LIBOR [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Amount of hedged debt	250,000,000	'	'
Fixed interest rate percentage (in hundredths)	5.25%	'	'
six-month LIBOR [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Amount of hedged debt	750,000,000	'	'
Fixed interest rate percentage (in hundredths)	5.25%	'	'
Interest Rate Swap [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Amount of hedged debt	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000	'
Gain on hedge ineffectiveness	'	2,000,000	'
Loss on hedge ineffectiveness	4,000,000	'	'
Interest Rate Swap [Member] \| Other Non-Current Assets [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	16,000,000	1,000,000	'
Forward Interest Rate Swaps [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Amount of hedged debt	1,500,000,000	0	'
Forward Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	44,000,000	0	'
Warrants [Member] \| Other Non-Current Assets [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of derivative asset not designated as hedging instrument	$553,000,000	$188,000,000	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2014		Aug. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014		Aug. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Non Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'		'
Money Market Funds, at Carrying Value	$1,900		$1,600
Warrant assets	553		188
Investment in AmerisourceBergen	887		225
Call option	0		839
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Non Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'		'
Money Market Funds, at Carrying Value	1,879		1,636
Interest rate swaps	16	[1]	1	[1]
Forward interest rate swaps	44		'
Warrant assets	553	[2]	188	[2]
Investment in AmerisourceBergen	887	[3]	225	[3]
Call option	0		839
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Non Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'		'
Money Market Funds, at Carrying Value	1,879		1,636
Interest rate swaps	0	[1]	0	[1]
Forward interest rate swaps	0		'
Warrant assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
Investment in AmerisourceBergen	887	[3]	225	[3]
Call option	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Non Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'		'
Money Market Funds, at Carrying Value	0		0
Interest rate swaps	16	[1]	1	[1]
Forward interest rate swaps	44		'
Warrant assets	553	[2]	188	[2]
Investment in AmerisourceBergen	0	[3]	0	[3]
Call option	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Non Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'		'
Money Market Funds, at Carrying Value	0		0
Interest rate swaps	0	[1]	0	[1]
Forward interest rate swaps	0		'
Warrant assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
Investment in AmerisourceBergen	0	[3]	0	[3]
Call option	$0		$839

[1]	Interest rate swaps are valued using six-month and one-month LIBOR in arrears rates. See Note 10 for additional disclosure regarding financial instruments.
[2]	Warrants were valued using a Monte Carlo simulation. Key assumptions used in the valuation include risk-free interest rates using constant maturity treasury rates; the dividend yield for AmerisourceBergenbs common stock; AmerisourceBergenbs common stock price at the valuation date; AmerisourceBergenbs equity volatility; the number of shares of AmerisourceBergenbs common stock outstanding; the number of AmerisourceBergen employee stock options and the exercise price; and the details specific to the warrants.
[3]	The investment in AmerisourceBergen is valued using the closing stock price of AmerisourceBergen as of the balance sheet dates. See Note 6 for additional disclosures on available-for-sale investments.

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014
	Stores
DEA Settlement [Member]	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Reserve for litigation settlements	$80
Number of DEA pharmacy registrations surrendered	6
DerivativeSettlement [Member]	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Reserve for litigation settlements	$3.50

Capital_Stock_Details

Capital Stock (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-term dividend payout ratio target, lower range (in hundredths)	30.00%	'	'
Long-term dividend payout ratio target, upper range (in hundredths)	35.00%	'	'
Stock repurchased during current fiscal year, value	$705,000,000	$615,000,000	'
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuances (in shares)	48.4	'	'
Common Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'
Stock repurchased during current fiscal year, value	0	0	1,151,000,000
Common Stock [Member] \| 2012 Repurchase Program [Member]	'	'	'
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'
Share repurchase program, authorized maximum amount	2,000,000,000	'	'
Stock repurchased during current fiscal year, value	0	0	1,151,000,000
Common Stock [Member] \| Share Repurchase Program2014 [Member]	'	'	'
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'
Share repurchase program, authorized maximum amount	3,000,000,000	'	'
Stock repurchased during current fiscal year, value	$0	$0	$0

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Detai

Stock Compensation Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Stock Compensation Plans (Details) (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total shares authorized under Omnibus Plan (in shares)	60,400,000	'	'
Weighted Average Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Number of options that may be granted under this plan (in shares)	94,000,000	'	'
Percentage of the fair market value that the plan permits eligible employees to purchase common stock	90.00%	'	'
Number of shares available for grant (in shares)	15,000,000	'	'
Number of shares each nonemployee director was granted (in shares)	2,892	4,789	4,788
Share-based compensation expense	$114,000,000	$104,000,000	$99,000,000
Outstanding stock options [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares)	41,216,173	'	'
Granted (in shares)	6,744,582	'	'
Exercised (in shares)	-13,832,509	'	'
Expired/Forfeited (in shares)	-2,211,422	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	31,916,824	41,216,173	'
Vested or expected to vest at end of period (in shares)	18,869,912	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	12,433,713	'	'
Weighted Average Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$34.69	'	'
Granted (in dollars per share)	$60.70	'	'
Exercised (in dollars per share)	$35.47	'	'
Expired/Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$42.54	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share)	$39.28	$34.69	'
Vested or expected to vest at end of period (in dollars per share)	$43.33	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in dollars per share)	$32.97	'	'
Remaining Contractual Terms [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding at end of period	'6 years 4 months 24 days	'6 years 1 month 20 days	'
Vested or expected to vest at end of period	'7 years 11 months 5 days	'	'
Exercisable at end of period	'4 years 0 months 14 days	'	'
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period	548,000,000	'	'
Outstanding at end of period	674,000,000	548,000,000	'
Vested or expected to vest at end of period	326,000,000	'	'
Exercisable at end of period	343,000,000	'	'
Intrinsic value for options exercised	346,000,000	159,000,000	22,000,000
Fair value of options vested	58,000,000	51,000,000	125,000,000
Cash received from the exercise of options	490,000,000	471,000,000	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit Realized from Exercise of Stock Options	130,000,000	60,000,000	'
Option Pricing Model Assumptions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Risk-free interest rate (in hundredths)	1.98%	1.15%	1.73%
Average life of option (in years)	'6 years 10 months 24 days	'7 years	'7 years 10 months 24 days
Volatility (in hundredths)	26.27%	24.94%	27.02%
Dividend yield (in hundredths)	2.48%	2.44%	2.90%
Weighted-average grant-date fair value granted at market price (in dollars per share)	$12.88	$6.75	$8.08
Walgreen Co. Omnibus and former Executive Stock Option Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Weighted Average Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	52,000,000	51,000,000	62,000,000
Walgreen Co. Omnibus and former Restricted Stock Unit Award Program [Member]	'	'	'
Outstanding shares [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding shares at beginning of period (in shares)	3,497,838	'	'
Dividends (in shares)	79,073	'	'
Vested or expected to vest at end of period (in shares)	-710,851	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period	679,658	'	'
Cancelled and forfeited (in shares)	-265,651	'	'
Outstanding shares at end of period (in shares)	3,280,067	3,497,838	'
Weighted Average Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$41.57	'	'
Granted (in dollars per share)	$60.76	'	'
Dividends (in dollars per share)	$0	'	'
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$43.63	'	'
Vested or expected to vest at end of period (in dollars per share)	$35.09	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share)	$45.40	$41.57	'
Share-based compensation expense	48,000,000	33,000,000	24,000,000
Walgreen Co. Omnibus and former Performance Share Program [Member]	'	'	'
Outstanding shares [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding shares at beginning of period (in shares)	2,217,610	'	'
Vested or expected to vest at end of period (in shares)	-606,926	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period	615,921	'	'
Cancelled and forfeited (in shares)	-163,473	'	'
Outstanding shares at end of period (in shares)	2,063,132	2,217,610	'
Weighted Average Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$32.99	'	'
Granted (in dollars per share)	$65.08	'	'
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$44.01	'	'
Vested or expected to vest at end of period (in dollars per share)	$28.31	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share)	$44.85	$32.99	'
Share-based compensation expense	8,000,000	15,000,000	7,000,000
Total Omnibus plan and former Restricted Stock Unit Award Program and Performance Share Programs [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Newly authorized shares under the Omnibus Plan (in shares)	0	'	'
Outstanding shares [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding shares at beginning of period (in shares)	56,454,499	'	'
Newly authorized shares under the Omnibus Plan	0	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period	-11,209,853	'	'
Cancelled and forfeited (in shares)	1,417,145	'	'
Plan termination	1,690,451	'	'
Outstanding shares at end of period (in shares)	48,352,242	'	'
Weighted Average Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
The value of the annual stock grant made to directors after November 1, 2009	175,000	'	'
Share Walgreens [Member]	'	'	'
Weighted Average Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	$6,000,000	$5,000,000	$6,000,000

Retirement_Benefits_Details

Retirement Benefits (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]	'	'	'
Profit-sharing provision	$355	$342	$283
Contributions to profit sharing	328	262	372
Components of net periodic benefit costs [Abstract]	'	'	'
Service cost	8	9	13
Interest cost	17	14	22
Amortization of actuarial loss	11	12	8
Amortization of prior service cost	-23	-22	-10
Total postretirement benefit cost	13	13	33
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forwad]	'	'	'
Benefit obligation at September 1	350	342	'
Service cost	8	9	13
Interest cost	17	14	22
Amendments	-23	0	'
Actuarial (gain) loss	88	-1	'
Benefit payments	-19	-20	'
Participants contributions	6	6	'
Benefit obligation, end of period	427	350	342
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Plan assets at fair value, beginning of period	0	0	'
Plan participants contributions	6	6	'
Employer contributions	13	14	'
Benefits paid	-19	-20	'
Plan assets at fair value, end of period	0	0	0
Funded status [Abstract]	'	'	'
Funded status	-427	-350	'
Amounts recognized in balance sheet [Abstract]	'	'	'
Current liabilities (present value of expected 2015 net benefit payments)	-11	-10	'
Non-current liabilities	-416	-340	'
Net liability recognized at August 31	-427	-350	'
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss [Abstract]	'	'	'
Prior service credit	-228	-228	'
Net actuarial loss	225	148	'
Amounts expected to be recognized as components of net periodic costs [Abstract]	'	'	'
Prior service credit	-24	'	'
Net actuarial loss	19	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Next Rolling Twelve Months	12	'	'
Assumptions used to compute postretirement benefit obligation [Abstract]	'	'	'
Discount rate assumption used to compute the postretirement benefit obligation, (in hundredths)	4.40%	5.20%	'
Discount rate assumption used to determine net periodic benefit cost (in hundredths)	5.05%	4.15%	5.40%
Percentage value of consumer price index used in assumptions to compute the postretirement benefit obligation (in hundredths)	2.00%	2.00%	'
Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates [Abstract]	'	'	'
Health care cost trend rate (in hundredths)	7.15%	'	'
Ultimate health care cost trend rate (in hundredths)	5.25%	'	'
Effect of One-Percentage Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates [Abstract]	'	'	'
Effect of one percentage point increase on service and interest cost	-1	'	'
Effect of one percentage point decrease on service and interest cost	1	'	'
Effect of one percentage point increase on postretirement obligation	-3	'	'
Effect of one percentage point decrease on postretirement obligation	7	'	'
Estimated future benefit payments and federal subsidy [Abstract]	'	'	'
2015	12	'	'
2016	13	'	'
2017	14	'	'
2018	16	'	'
2019	17	'	'
2020-2024	$112	'	'

Supplementary_Financial_Inform2

Supplementary Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Non-cash transactions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Initial fair market value adjustments for the AmerisourceBergen warrant	'	$77	'
Capital lease obligation additions	322	'	'
Shares issued for Investment in Alliance Boots (in dollars)	'	'	$2,981

Supplementary_Financial_Inform3

Supplementary Financial Information, Assets and Liabilities Included in Consolidated Balance Sheet Captions (Details) (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Accounts receivable [Abstract]	'	'
Accounts receivable	$3,391	$2,786
Allowance for doubtful accounts	-173	-154
Net, Total	3,218	2,632
Other non-current assets [Abstract]	'	'
Intangible assets, net (see Note 6)	1,180	1,307
Investment in AmerisourceBergen	887	225
Warrant assets	553	188
Other	456	239
Other non-current assets, Total	3,076	1,959
Accrued expenses and other liabilities [Abstract]	'	'
Accrued salaries	1,123	928
Taxes other than income taxes	377	420
Insurance	185	285
Profit sharing	259	239
Other	1,757	1,705
Accrued expenses and other liabilities, Total	3,701	3,577
Other non-current liabilities [Abstract]	'	'
Postretirement health care benefits	416	340
Accrued rent	409	382
Insurance	428	403
Other	1,689	942
Other non-current liabilities, Total	$2,942	$2,067

Supplementary_Financial_Inform4

Supplementary Financial Information, Summary of Quarterly Results (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014	31-May-14	Feb. 28, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	31-May-13	Feb. 28, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$19,057	$19,401	$19,605	$18,329	$17,941	$18,313	$18,647	$17,316	$76,392	$72,217	'
Gross Profit	5,327	5,440	5,650	5,152	5,191	5,222	5,607	5,099	21,569	21,119	20,342
Net Earnings	($239)	$722	$754	$695	$657	$624	$756	$413	$1,932	$2,450	$2,127
Per Common Share [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Basic (in dollars per share)	($0.25)	$0.76	$0.79	$0.73	$0.69	$0.66	$0.80	$0.44	$2.03	$2.59	$2.43
Diluted (in dollars per share)	($0.25)	$0.75	$0.78	$0.72	$0.69	$0.65	$0.79	$0.43	$2	$2.56	$2.42
Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$0.34	$0.32	$0.32	$0.32	$0.32	$0.28	$0.28	$0.28	$1.28	$1.14	$0.95

Supplementary_Financial_Inform5

Supplementary Financial Information, Common Stock Price High And Low Sales Price for Each Quarter (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014	31-May-14	Feb. 28, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	31-May-13	Feb. 28, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock price for quarter per Consolidated Transaction Reporting System, High	$76.39	$71.97	$69.84	$60.93	$51.26	$50.77	$41.95	$36.95	$76.39	$51.26
Common stock price for quarter per Consolidated Transaction Reporting System, Low	$57.75	$62.80	$54.86	$48.18	$44.12	$39.96	$34.27	$32.16	$48.18	$32.16

Supplementary_Financial_Inform6

Supplementary Financial Information, Five-Year Cumulative Total Return on Common Stock (Details) (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2009
Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cumulative return on Company's common stock	$199.74	$155.48	$112.61	$107.82	$80.76	$100
Cumulative return on Standard and Poor 500 Index	$196.29	$160	$137.82	$119.43	$102.81	$100
Cumulative return on Value Line Pharmacy Services Industry Index	$216.43	$182.67	$141.74	$115.10	$89.37	$100