Mastercard (MA) 10-Q 30 Oct 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Oct. 23, 2014	Oct. 23, 2014
		Class A Common Stock	Class B Common Stock
Entity Registrant Name	'MASTERCARD INC	'	'
Trading Symbol	'MA	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001141391	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-14	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	1,112,920,270	39,934,825

Consolidated_Balance_Sheet

Consolidated Balance Sheet (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
ASSETS	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$4,462	$3,599
Restricted cash for litigation settlement	540	723
Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value	1,857	2,696
Accounts receivable	1,071	966
Settlement due from customers	1,188	1,351
Restricted security deposits held for customers	953	911
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	602	471
Deferred income taxes	283	233
Total Current Assets	10,956	10,950
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $433 and $394, respectively	553	526
Deferred income taxes	102	70
Goodwill	1,456	1,122
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $651 and $534, respectively	705	672
Other assets	887	902
Total Assets	14,659	14,242
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	'	'
Accounts payable	319	338
Settlement due to customers	1,226	1,433
Restricted security deposits held for customers	953	911
Accrued litigation	789	886
Accrued expenses	2,098	2,101
Other current liabilities	464	363
Total Current Liabilities	5,849	6,032
Long-term debt	1,494	0
Deferred income taxes	119	117
Other liabilities	649	598
Total Liabilities	8,111	6,747
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 13)	'	'
Stockholders' Equity	'	'
Additional paid-in-capital	3,843	3,762
Class A treasury stock, at cost, 234,905,063 and 192,702,740 shares, respectively	-9,803	-6,577
Retained earnings	12,553	10,121
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-92	178
Total Stockholders' Equity	6,501	7,484
Non-controlling interests	47	11
Total Equity	6,548	7,495
Total Liabilities and Equity	14,659	14,242
Class A Common Stock	'	'
Stockholders' Equity	'	'
Common stock	0	0
Class B Common Stock	'	'
Stockholders' Equity	'	'
Common stock	$0	$0

Consolidated_Balance_Sheet_Par

Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Property, plant and equipment, accumulated depreciation	$433	$394
Other intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$651	$534
Class A treasury stock, shares	234,905,063	192,702,740
Class A Common Stock	'	'
Common stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, authorized	3,000,000,000	3,000,000,000
Common stock, issued	1,349,345,980	1,341,541,110
Common stock, outstanding	1,114,440,917	1,148,838,370
Class B Common Stock	'	'
Common stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, authorized	1,200,000,000	1,200,000,000
Common stock, issued	40,060,155	45,350,070
Common stock, outstanding	40,060,155	45,350,070

Consolidated_Statement_of_Oper

Consolidated Statement of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Net Revenue	$2,503		$2,218		$7,057		$6,220
Operating Expenses	'		'		'		'
General and administrative	797		701		2,207		1,930
Advertising and marketing	203		205		525		520
Depreciation and amortization	83		64		237		187
Total operating expenses	1,083		970		2,969		2,637
Operating income	1,420		1,248		4,088		3,583
Other Income (Expense)	'		'		'		'
Investment income	8		11		21		30
Interest expense	-11		3		-32		-7
Other income (expense), net	1		-8		-5		-17
Total other income (expense)	-2		6		-16		6
Income before income taxes	1,418		1,254		4,072		3,589
Income tax expense	403		375		1,256		1,096
Net Income	$1,015		$879		$2,816		$2,493
Basic Earnings per Share	$0.88		$0.73		$2.41		$2.05
Basic Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding	1,157		1,205		1,169		1,215
Diluted Earnings per Share	$0.87		$0.73		$2.40		$2.05
Diluted Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding	1,160	[1]	1,209	[1]	1,172	[1]	1,219	[1]
[1]	For the periods presented, the calculation of diluted EPS excluded a minimal amount of anti-dilutive share-based payment awards.

Consolidated_Statement_of_Comp

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'		'
Net Income	$1,015	$879	$2,816		$2,493
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'		'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-274	137	-262	[1]	65	[1]
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans	0	-2	2		-1
Income tax effect	0	1	0		1
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, net of income tax effect	0	-1	2	[1]	0	[1]
Investment securities available-for-sale	-8	-1	-14		-9
Income tax effect	2	1	4		3
Investment securities available-for-sale, net of income tax effect	-6	0	-10	[1]	-6	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-280	136	-270	[1]	59	[1]
Comprehensive Income	$735	$1,015	$2,546		$2,552
[1]	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, $2 million and $3 million, respectively, of deferred costs related to the Companybs defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to general and administrative expense. In addition, $1 million and $5 million of net gains on available-for-sale investment securities were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to investment income during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Tax amounts related to these items are insignificant.

Consolidated_Statement_of_Chan

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (USD $)	Total		Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Additional Paid-In Capital	Class A Treasury Stock	Non-Controlling Interests	Class A	Class A	Class B
In Millions									Common Stock	Common Stock
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$7,495		$10,121	$178	$3,762	($6,577)	$11	'	$0	$0
Net income	2,816		2,816	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Activity related to non-controlling interests	36		'	'	'	'	36	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-270	[1]	'	-270	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash dividends declared on Class A and Class B common stock, $0.33 per share	-384		-384	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Purchases of treasury stock	-3,231		'	'	'	-3,231	'	-3,231	'	'
Share-based payments	86		'	'	81	5	'	'	'	'
Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	$6,548		$12,553	($92)	$3,843	($9,803)	$47	'	$0	$0
[1]	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, $2 million and $3 million, respectively, of deferred costs related to the Companybs defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to general and administrative expense. In addition, $1 million and $5 million of net gains on available-for-sale investment securities were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to investment income during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Tax amounts related to these items are insignificant.

Consolidated_Statement_of_Chan1

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]	'
Cash dividends declared on Class A and Class B common stock, per share	$0.33

Consolidated_Statement_of_Cash

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Operating Activities	'	'
Net income	$2,816	$2,493
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	237	187
Share-based payments	-43	27
Deferred income taxes	-80	-34
Other	24	48
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
Accounts receivable	-96	-67
Income taxes receivable	-12	158
Settlement due from customers	86	-192
Prepaid expenses	-156	-44
Accrued litigation and legal settlements	-97	0
Accounts payable	-39	-76
Settlement due to customers	-124	126
Accrued expenses	60	209
Net change in other assets and liabilities	106	101
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,682	2,936
Investing Activities	'	'
Purchases of investment securities available-for-sale	-1,977	-1,936
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	-336	0
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	-97	-65
Capitalized software	-75	-88
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available-for-sale	1,444	1,349
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities available-for-sale	1,322	959
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash for litigation settlement	184	-1
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities held-to-maturity	0	36
Other investing activities	-17	-19
Net cash provided by investing activities	448	235
Financing Activities	'	'
Purchases of treasury stock	-3,231	-1,692
Proceeds from debt	1,487	0
Dividends paid	-388	-182
Tax benefit for share-based payments	53	23
Cash proceeds from exercise of stock options	23	22
Other financing activities	-39	-8
Net cash used in financing activities	-2,095	-1,837
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-172	27
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	863	1,361
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	3,599	2,052
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	4,462	3,413
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities	'	'
Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash acquired	574	0
Fair value of liabilities assumed related to acquisitions	$134	$0

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Organization
	MasterCard Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries, including MasterCard International Incorporated (“MasterCard International” and together with MasterCard Incorporated, “MasterCard” or the “Company”), is a technology company in the global payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses worldwide, enabling them to use electronic forms of payment instead of cash and checks. The Company facilitates the processing of payment transactions including authorization, clearing and settlement, and delivers related products and services. The Company makes payments easier and more efficient by creating a wide range of payment solutions and services through a family of well-known brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®. The Company also provides value-added offerings such as loyalty and reward programs, information services and consulting. The Company’s network is designed to ensure safety and security for the global payments system. A typical transaction on the Company’s network involves four participants in addition to the Company: cardholder, merchant, issuer (the cardholder’s financial institution) and acquirer (the merchant’s financial institution). The Company’s customers encompass a vast array of entities, including financial institutions and other entities that act as “issuers” and “acquirers”, as well as merchants, governments, telecommunication companies and other businesses. The Company does not issue cards, extend credit, determine or receive revenue from interest rates or other fees charged to cardholders by issuers, or establish the “merchant discount” rate charged in connection with the acceptance of cards and other payment devices that carry MasterCard’s brands.
	Consolidation and basis of presentation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MasterCard and its majority-owned and controlled entities, including any variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation. The Company follows accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
	The balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2013. The consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 and as of September 30, 2014 are unaudited, and in the opinion of management, include all normal recurring adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the results for interim periods. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
	The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requirements for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and, consequently, do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP. Reference should be made to the MasterCard Incorporated Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 for additional disclosures, including a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies.
	Non-controlling interest amounts are included in the consolidated statement of operations within other income (expense). For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 income/loss from non-controlling interests was insignificant.
	In December 2012, the Company made a payment into a qualified cash settlement fund related to its U.S. merchant class litigation. The Company has presented these funds as restricted cash for litigation settlement since the use of the funds under the qualified cash settlement fund is restricted for payment under the settlement agreement. In January 2014, $164 million was returned to MasterCard from the qualified cash settlement fund related to the opt-out merchants and has been reclassified to cash and cash equivalents. See Note 12 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) for further detail.
	Recent accounting pronouncements
	Revenue Recognition - In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued accounting guidance that provides a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers and supersedes most of the existing revenue recognition requirements. Under this guidance, an entity 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. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is not permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential effects of this guidance.
	Foreign currency - In March 2013, the FASB issued clarifying accounting guidance on the release of cumulative translation adjustment into net income when an entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or a group of assets that is a business within a foreign entity. The revised accounting guidance became effective January 1, 2014 and did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	Income taxes - In July 2013, the FASB issued accounting guidance that requires entities to present an unrecognized tax benefit net with certain deferred tax assets when specific requirements are met. The Company adopted the revised accounting guidance effective January 1, 2014. This new accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Acquisitions_Notes

Acquisitions (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Acquisitions	'
	Acquisitions
	In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company acquired five businesses. Two of the business combinations were achieved in stages, with non-controlling interests acquired in previous years. One of the business combinations was a transaction for less than 100 percent of the equity interest. The total consideration transferred was $389 million, paid in cash. The Company’s preliminary estimate of the aggregate excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired of $385 million was recorded as goodwill. The goodwill is not expected to be deductible for local tax purposes. The consolidated financial statements include the operating results of the acquired businesses from the dates of their respective acquisition. Pro forma information related to acquisitions was not included because the impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations was not considered to be material. The Company acquired no businesses in the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share	'
	Earnings Per Share
	The components of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for common stock were as follows:
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
		(in millions, except per share data)
	Numerator:
	Net income	$	1,015	$	879	$	2,816	$	2,493
	Denominator:
	Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	1,157		1,205		1,169		1,215
	Dilutive stock options and stock units	3		4		3		4
	Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding 1	1,160		1,209		1,172		1,219
	Earnings per Share
	Basic	$	0.88	$	0.73	$	2.41	$	2.05
	Diluted	$	0.87	$	0.73	$	2.4	$	2.05
	1 For the periods presented, the calculation of diluted EPS excluded a minimal amount of anti-dilutive share-based payment awards.

Fair_Value

Fair Value	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Financial Instruments, Financial Liabilities, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]	'
Fair Value and Investment Securities	'
	Fair Value and Investment Securities
	Financial Instruments – Recurring Measurements
	The Company classifies its fair value measurements of financial instruments into a three-level hierarchy (the “Valuation Hierarchy”). No transfers were made among the three levels in the Valuation Hierarchy during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.
	The distribution of the Company’s financial instruments which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis within the Valuation Hierarchy was as follows:
		September 30, 2014
		Quoted Prices		Significant		Significant			Fair
		in Active		Other		Unobservable			Value
		Markets		Observable		Inputs
		(Level 1)		Inputs		(Level 3)
				(Level 2)
		(in millions)
	Municipal securities	$	—	$	147	$	—		$	147
	U.S. government and agency securities 1	—		254		—			254
	Corporate securities	—		1,006		—			1,006
	Asset-backed securities	—		362		—			362
	Other 2	11		71		11			93
	Total	$	11	$	1,840	$	11		$	1,862
		December 31, 2013
		Quoted Prices		Significant		Significant			Fair
		in Active		Other		Unobservable			Value
		Markets		Observable		Inputs
		(Level 1)		Inputs		(Level 3)
				(Level 2)
		(in millions)
	Municipal securities	$	—	$	267	$	—		$	267
	U.S. government and agency securities 1	—		560		—			560
	Corporate securities	—		1,426		—			1,426
	Asset-backed securities	—		364		—			364
	Other 2	—		79		11			90
	Total	$	—	$	2,696	$	11		$	2,707
	1 Excludes amounts held in escrow related to the U.S. merchant class litigation settlement of $540 million and $723 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, which would be included in Levels 1 and 2 of the Valuation Hierarchy. See Note 6 (Accrued Expenses and Accrued Litigation) and Note 12 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) for further details.
	2 The amounts classified within Level 3 of the Valuation Hierarchy represent auction rate securities (“ARS”) with values that are not currently observable in the market due to the lack of trading in the securities.
	The fair value of the Company’s available-for-sale municipal securities, U.S. government and agency securities, corporate securities, asset-backed securities and other fixed income securities included in the Other category are based on quoted prices for similar assets in active markets and are therefore included in Level 2 of the Valuation Hierarchy. The Company’s foreign currency derivative contracts have also been classified within Level 2 in the Other category of the Valuation Hierarchy, as the fair value is based on broker quotes for the same or similar derivative instruments. See Note 14 (Foreign Exchange Risk Management) for further details.
	Financial Instruments - Non-Recurring Measurements
	Certain financial instruments are carried on the consolidated balance sheet at cost, which approximates fair value due to their short-term, highly liquid nature. These instruments include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, settlement due from customers, restricted security deposits held for customers, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, settlement due to customers and accrued expenses. In addition, nonmarketable equity investments are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for purposes of initial recognition and impairment testing.
	Debt
	The Company estimates the fair value of its long-term debt using the market pricing approach which applies market assumptions for relevant though not directly comparable undertakings. Long-term debt is classified as Level 2 of the Valuation Hierarchy. At September 30, 2014, the carrying value and fair value of long-term debt was $1.5 billion. The Company did not have any long-term debt at December 31, 2013. See Note 7 (Debt).
	Settlement and Other Guarantee Liabilities
	The Company estimates the fair value of its settlement and other guarantees using the market pricing approach which applies market assumptions for relevant though not directly comparable undertakings, as the latter are not observable in the market given the proprietary nature of such guarantees. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the carrying value and fair value of settlement and other guarantee liabilities were not material. Settlement and other guarantee liabilities are classified as Level 3 of the Valuation Hierarchy as their valuation requires substantial judgment and estimation of factors that are not currently observable in the market. For additional information regarding the Company’s settlement and other guarantee liabilities, see Note 13 (Settlement and Other Risk Management).
	Refunding Revenue Bonds
	The Company holds refunding revenue bonds with the same payment terms, and which contain the right of set-off with a capital lease obligation related to the Company’s global technology and operations center located in O’Fallon, Missouri. The Company has netted the refunding revenue bonds and the corresponding capital lease obligation in the consolidated balance sheet and estimates that the carrying value approximates the fair value for these bonds.
	Non-Financial Instruments
	Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for purposes of initial recognition and impairment testing. The Company’s non-financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets. These assets are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence of impairment.
	The valuation methods for goodwill and other intangible assets involve assumptions concerning comparable company multiples, discount rates, growth projections and other assumptions of future business conditions. The Company uses a weighted income and market approach for estimating the fair value of its reporting unit, when necessary. As the assumptions employed to measure these assets on a nonrecurring basis are based on management’s judgment using internal and external data, these fair value determinations are classified in Level 3 of the Valuation Hierarchy.
	Amortized Costs and Fair Values – Available-for-Sale Investment Securities
	The major classes of the Company’s available-for-sale investment securities, for which unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a separate component of other comprehensive income on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, and their respective amortized cost basis and fair values as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:
		September 30, 2014
		Amortized		Gross		Gross			Fair
		Cost		Unrealized		Unrealized			Value
				Gain		Loss
		(in millions)
	Municipal securities	$	147	$	—	$	—		$	147
	U.S. government and agency securities	254		—		—			254
	Corporate securities	1,005		1		—			1,006
	Asset-backed securities	362		—		—			362
	Other 1	114		—		(15		)	99
	Total	$	1,882	$	1	$	(15	)	$	1,868
		December 31, 2013
		Amortized		Gross		Gross			Fair
		Cost		Unrealized		Unrealized			Value
				Gain		Loss
		(in millions)
	Municipal securities	$	267	$	—	$	—		$	267
U.S. government and agency securities	560		—		—			560
Corporate securities	1,425		2		(1		)	1,426
Asset-backed securities	364		—		—			364
Other 1	91		—		(1		)	90
Total	$	2,707	$	2	$	(2	)	$	2,707
1 Other includes ARS, which are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The unrealized losses related to ARS have been in an unrealized loss position longer than 12 months, but have not been deemed other-than-temporarily impaired.
The municipal securities are primarily comprised of tax-exempt bonds and are diversified across states and sectors. The U.S. government and agency securities are primarily invested in U.S. government bonds and U.S. government sponsored agency bonds. Corporate securities are comprised of commercial paper and corporate bonds. The asset-backed securities are investments in bonds which are collateralized primarily by automobile loan receivables.
Investment Maturities
The maturity distribution based on the contractual terms of the Company’s investment securities at September 30, 2014 was as follows:
	Available-For-Sale
	Amortized		Fair Value
	Cost
	(in millions)
Due within 1 year	$	1,045	$	1,046
Due after 1 year through 5 years	796		796
Due after 5 years through 10 years	4		4
Due after 10 years	12		11
No contractual maturity	25		11
Total	$	1,882	$	1,868
All the securities due after ten years are ARS. Equity securities have been included in the No contractual maturity category, as these securities do not have stated maturity dates.
Investment Income
Investment income was $8 million and $11 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $21 million and $30 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Investment income primarily consisted of interest income generated from cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities available-for-sale. Dividend income and gross realized gains and losses were not significant.

Prepaid_Expenses_and_Other_Ass

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	'
	Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(in millions)
	Customer and merchant incentives	$	286	$	239
	Prepaid income taxes	159		36
	Other	157		196
	Total prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	602	$	471
	Other assets consisted of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(in millions)
	Customer and merchant incentives	$	541	$	531
	Nonmarketable equity investments	163		229
	Income taxes receivable	92		78
	Other	91		64
	Total other assets	$	887	$	902
	Certain customer and merchant business agreements provide incentives upon entering into the agreement. Customer and merchant incentives represent payments made or amounts to be paid to customers and merchants under business agreements. Amounts to be paid for these incentives and the related liability were included in accrued expenses and other liabilities. Costs directly related to entering into such an agreement are deferred and amortized over the life of the agreement.
	Investments for which the equity method or historical cost method of accounting is used are recorded in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. MasterCard’s share of net earnings or losses of entities accounted for under the equity method of accounting is included in other income (expense) on the consolidated statement of operations. The Company accounts for nonmarketable equity investments under the historical cost method of accounting when those investments do not qualify for the equity method of accounting. In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company acquired controlling interests in two investments previously included within nonmarketable equity investments.

Accrued_Expenses

Accrued Expenses	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Accrued Expenses and Accrued Litigation	'
	Accrued Expenses and Accrued Litigation
	Accrued expenses consisted of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(in millions)
	Customer and merchant incentives	$	1,336	$	1,286
	Personnel costs	365		413
	Advertising	103		149
	Income and other taxes	150		95
	Other	144		158
	Total accrued expenses	$	2,098	$	2,101
	As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s provision related to U.S. merchant litigations was $789 million and $886 million, respectively. These amounts are not included in the accrued expenses table above and are separately reported as accrued litigation on the consolidated balance sheet. The accrued litigation item includes $68 million as of December 31, 2013 related to the timing of MasterCard's administration of the short-term reduction in default credit interchange from U.S. issuers which expired in April 2014. During the third quarter of 2014, MasterCard executed settlement agreements with a number of opt-out merchants and no adjustments to the amount reserved was deemed necessary. See Note 12 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) for further discussion of the U.S. merchant class litigation.

Debt_Notes

Debt (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt	'
	Debt
	Long-term debt at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(in millions)
	2.000% Notes due 2019	$	500		$	—
	3.375% Notes due 2024	1,000			—
		1,500			—
	Less: Unamortized discount	(6		)	—
	Long-term debt	$	1,494		$	—
	In March 2014, MasterCard Incorporated issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 2.000% Notes due April 1, 2019 (the “2019 Notes”) and $1 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.375% Notes due April 1, 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) (collectively the “Notes”). The effective interest rates were 2.081% and 3.426% on the 2019 Notes and 2024 Notes, respectively. The net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes, after deducting the underwriting discount and offering expenses, were $1,484 million. The Company is not subject to any financial covenants under the Notes. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually on April 1 and October 1, commencing on October 1, 2014. The Notes may be redeemed in whole, or in part, at the Company’s option at any time for a specified make-whole amount. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations and would rank equally with any future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
	The Company has a $3 billion committed unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) which expires on November 15, 2018. The Credit Facility decreases to $2.95 billion during the final year of the Credit Facility agreement. MasterCard had no borrowings under the Credit Facility at September 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity	'
	Stockholders’ Equity
	In June 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of its Class A common stock (the “June 2012 Share Repurchase Program”). This program became effective in June 2012 at the completion of the Company’s previously announced $2 billion Class A share repurchase program.
	In February 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $2 billion of its Class A common stock (the “February 2013 Share Repurchase Program”).  This program became effective at the completion of the Company’s June 2012 Share Repurchase Program, which occurred in March 2013.
	In December 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $3.5 billion of its Class A common stock (the “December 2013 Share Repurchase Program”). During January 2014, the Company exhausted its purchases under the February 2013 Share Repurchase Program and began purchasing shares under the December 2013 Share Repurchase Program.
	The following table summarizes the Company’s share repurchase authorizations of its Class A common stock through September 30, 2014, as well as historical purchases:
		Authorization Dates
		December		February		June		Total
		2013		2013		2012
		(in millions, except average price data)
	Board authorization	$	3,500	$	2,000	$	1,500	$	7,000
	Dollar value of shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2013	**		$	1,088	$	604	$	1,692
	Remaining authorization at December 31, 2013	$	3,500	$	161	$	—	$	3,661
	Dollar value of shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2014	$	3,070	$	161	$	—	$	3,231
	Remaining authorization at September 30, 2014	$	430	$	—	$	—	$	430
	Shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2013	**		19.4		11.7		31.1
	Average price paid per share during the nine months ended September 30, 2013	**		$	56.19	$	51.72	$	54.5
	Shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2014	40.5		1.9		—		42.4
	Average price paid per share during the nine months ended September 30, 2014	$	75.96	$	83.22	$	—	$	76.3
	Cumulative shares repurchased through September 30, 2014	40.5		31.1		31.1		102.7
	Cumulative average price paid per share	$	75.96	$	64.26	$	48.16	$	63.98
	** Not applicable
	As of October 23, 2014, the cumulative repurchases by the Company under the December 2013 Share Repurchase Program in 2014 totaled approximately 42.1 million shares of Class A common stock for an aggregate cost of approximately $3.2 billion at an average price of $75.82 per share of Class A common stock. As of October 23, 2014, the Company had approximately $310 million remaining under the December 2013 Share Repurchase Program.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	The changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
		Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans			Investment Securities Available-for-Sale			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
		(in millions)
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	93		$	(37	)	$	5		$	61
	Current period other comprehensive income (loss) 1	65			—			(6		)	59
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	158		$	(37	)	$	(1	)	$	120
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	206		$	(29	)	$	1		$	178
	Current period other comprehensive income (loss) 1	(262		)	2			(10		)	(270		)
	Balance at September 30, 2014	$	(56	)	$	(27	)	$	(9	)	$	(92	)
	1 During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, $2 million and $3 million, respectively, of deferred costs related to the Company’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to general and administrative expense. In addition, $1 million and $5 million of net gains on available-for-sale investment securities were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to investment income during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Tax amounts related to these items are insignificant.

ShareBased_Payments

Share-Based Payments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Aggregate Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Share-Based Payments	'
	Share-Based Payments
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company granted the following awards under the MasterCard Incorporated 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (“LTIP”). The LTIP is a shareholder-approved omnibus plan that permits the grant of various types of equity awards to employees.
		Granted in 2014	Weighted-Average
			Grant-Date
			Fair Value
		(in thousands)
	Non-qualified stock options	1,685	$14
	Restricted stock units	1,332	$76
	Performance stock units	133	$78
	Stock options vest in four equal annual installments beginning one year after the date of grant, and have a term of ten years. The Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the grant date fair value of stock options and calculated the expected term and the expected volatility based on historical MasterCard information. As a result, the expected term of stock options granted in the first quarter 2014 was five years, while the expected volatility was determined to be 19.1%.
	Vesting of the shares underlying the restricted stock units and performance stock units will generally occur three years after the date of grant. The fair value of restricted stock units is determined and fixed on the grant date based on the Company’s Class A common stock price, adjusted for the exclusion of dividend equivalents. The Monte Carlo simulation valuation model was used to determine the grant date fair value of performance stock units granted in the first quarter of 2014.
	Compensation expense is recorded net of estimated forfeitures over the shorter of the vesting period or the date the individual becomes eligible to retire under the LTIP. The Company uses the straight-line method of attribution over the requisite service period for expensing equity awards.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	The effective income tax rates were 28.5% and 29.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The effective income tax rates were 30.9% and 30.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2014, the effective tax rate was lower versus the comparable period in 2013, due primarily to larger benefits relating to the Company’s federal domestic production activities deduction and discrete benefits related to expiring statutes, partially offset by a less favorable geographic mix of taxable earnings. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the effective tax rate was higher versus the comparable period in 2013, due primarily to a less favorable geographic mix of taxable earnings, partially offset by larger benefits relating to the Company’s federal domestic production activities deduction and discrete benefits related to expiring statutes.
	The Company conducts operations in multiple countries and, as a result, is subjected to tax examinations in various jurisdictions, including the United States.  Uncertain tax positions are reviewed on an ongoing basis and are adjusted after considering facts and circumstances, including progress of tax audits, developments in case law and closing of statutes of limitations.  The Company has effectively settled its U.S. federal income tax obligations through 2008. With limited exception, the Company is no longer subject to state and local or foreign examinations by taxing authorities for years before 2006.  Within the next twelve months, the Company believes that the resolution of certain federal, foreign and state and local tax examinations are reasonably possible and that a change in estimate, reducing unrecognized tax benefits, may occur. While such a change may be significant, it is not possible to provide a range of the potential change until the examinations progress further or the related statutes of limitation expire.

Legal_and_Regulatory_Proceedin

Legal and Regulatory Proceedings	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Legal and Regulatory Proceedings [Abstract]	'
Legal and Regulatory Proceedings	'
	Legal and Regulatory Proceedings
	MasterCard is a party to legal and regulatory proceedings with respect to a variety of matters in the ordinary course of business.  Some of these proceedings are based on complex claims involving substantial uncertainties and unascertainable damages.  Accordingly, except as discussed below, it is not possible to determine the probability of loss or estimate damages, and therefore, MasterCard has not established reserves for any of these proceedings.  When the Company determines that a loss is both probable and estimable, MasterCard records a liability and discloses the amount of the liability if it is material. When a material loss contingency is only reasonably possible, MasterCard does not record a liability, but instead discloses the nature and the amount of the claim, and an estimate of the loss or range of loss, if such an estimate can be made. Unless otherwise stated below with respect to these matters, MasterCard cannot provide an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss based on one or more of the following reasons: (1) actual or potential plaintiffs have not claimed an amount of monetary damages or the amounts are unsupportable or exaggerated, (2) the matters are in early stages, (3) there is uncertainty as to the outcome of pending appeals or motions, (4) there are significant factual issues to be resolved, (5) the existence in many such proceedings of multiple defendants or potential defendants whose share of any potential financial responsibility has yet to be determined, and/or (6) there are novel legal issues presented. Furthermore, except as identified with respect to the matters below, MasterCard does not believe that the outcome of any existing legal or regulatory proceedings to which it is a party will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition or overall business.  However, with respect to the matters discussed below, an adverse judgment or other outcome or settlement with respect to any such proceedings could result in fines or payments by MasterCard and/or could require MasterCard to change its business practices. In addition, an adverse outcome in a regulatory proceeding could lead to the filing of civil damage claims and possibly result in damage awards in amounts that could be significant. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on MasterCard’s results of operations, financial condition and overall business.
	Interchange Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings
	MasterCard’s interchange fees and other practices are subject to regulatory and/or legal review and/or challenges in a number of jurisdictions, including the proceedings described below. When taken as a whole, the resulting decisions, regulations and legislation with respect to interchange fees and acceptance practices may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s prospects for future growth and its overall results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
	United States. In June 2005, the first of a series of complaints were filed on behalf of merchants (the majority of the complaints were styled as class actions, although a few complaints were filed on behalf of individual merchant plaintiffs) against MasterCard International, Visa U.S.A., Inc., Visa International Service Association and a number of financial institutions. Taken together, the claims in the complaints were generally brought under both Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, which prohibit monopolization and attempts or conspiracies to monopolize a particular industry, and some of these complaints contain unfair competition law claims under state law. The complaints allege, among other things, that MasterCard, Visa, and certain financial institutions conspired to set the price of interchange fees, enacted point of sale acceptance rules (including the no surcharge rule) in violation of antitrust laws and engaged in unlawful tying and bundling of certain products and services. The cases were consolidated for pre-trial proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in MDL No. 1720. The plaintiffs filed a consolidated class action complaint that seeks treble damages.
	In July 2006, the group of purported merchant class plaintiffs filed a supplemental complaint alleging that MasterCard’s initial public offering of its Class A Common Stock in May 2006 (the “IPO”) and certain purported agreements entered into between MasterCard and financial institutions in connection with the IPO: (1) violate U.S. antitrust laws and (2) constituted a fraudulent conveyance because the financial institutions allegedly attempted to release, without adequate consideration, MasterCard’s right to assess them for MasterCard’s litigation liabilities. The class plaintiffs sought treble damages and injunctive relief including, but not limited to, an order reversing and unwinding the IPO.
	In February 2011, MasterCard and MasterCard International entered into each of: (1) an omnibus judgment sharing and settlement sharing agreement with Visa Inc., Visa U.S.A. Inc. and Visa International Service Association and a number of financial institutions; and (2) a MasterCard settlement and judgment sharing agreement with a number of financial institutions.  The agreements provide for the apportionment of certain costs and liabilities which MasterCard, the Visa parties and the financial institutions may incur, jointly and/or severally, in the event of an adverse judgment or settlement of one or all of the cases in the merchant litigations.  Among a number of scenarios addressed by the agreements, in the event of a global settlement involving the Visa parties, the financial institutions and MasterCard, MasterCard would pay 12% of the monetary portion of the settlement. In the event of a settlement involving only MasterCard and the financial institutions with respect to their issuance of MasterCard cards, MasterCard would pay 36% of the monetary portion of such settlement.
	In October 2012, the parties entered into a definitive settlement agreement with respect to the merchant class litigation (including with respect to the claims related to the IPO) and the defendants separately entered into a settlement agreement with the individual merchant plaintiffs. The settlements included cash payments that were apportioned among the defendants pursuant to the omnibus judgment sharing and settlement sharing agreement described above. MasterCard also agreed to provide class members with a short-term reduction in default credit interchange rates and to modify certain of its business practices, including its No Surcharge Rule. Objections to the settlement were filed by both merchants and certain competitors, including Discover. Discover’s objections include a challenge to the settlement on the grounds that certain of the rule changes agreed to in the settlement constitute a restraint of trade in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The court granted final approval of the settlement in December 2013, which has been appealed by objectors to the settlement.
	Merchants representing slightly more than 25% of the MasterCard and Visa purchase volume over the relevant period chose to opt out of the class settlement. MasterCard anticipates that most of the larger merchants who opted out of the settlement will initiate separate actions seeking to recover damages, and over 30 opt-out complaints have been filed on behalf of numerous merchants in various jurisdictions. The defendants have consolidated all of these matters (except for one state court action in Texas) in front of the same federal district court that is overseeing the approval of the settlement. In July 2014, the district court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the opt-out merchant complaints for failure to state a claim.
	MasterCard recorded a pre-tax charge of $770 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and an additional $20 million pre-tax charge in the second quarter of 2012 relating to the settlement agreements described above. In 2012, MasterCard paid $790 million with respect to the settlements, of which $726 million was paid into a qualified cash settlement fund related to the merchant class litigation. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, MasterCard had $540 million and $723 million, respectively, in the qualified cash settlement fund classified as restricted cash on its balance sheet. The class settlement agreement provided for a return to the defendants of a portion of the class cash settlement fund, based upon the percentage of purchase volume represented by the opt-out merchants. This resulted in $164 million from the cash settlement fund being returned to MasterCard in January 2014 and reclassified at that time from restricted cash to cash and cash equivalents. In the fourth quarter of 2013, MasterCard recorded an incremental net pre-tax charge of $95 million related to the opt-out merchants, representing a change in its estimate of probable losses relating to these matters.  During the third quarter of 2014, MasterCard executed settlement agreements with a number of opt-out merchants and no adjustments to the amount reserved was deemed necessary. As of September 30, 2014, MasterCard had accrued a liability of $789 million as a reserve for both the merchant class litigation and the filed and anticipated opt-out merchant cases.
	The portion of the accrued liability relating to the opt-out merchants does not represent an estimate of a loss, if any, if the opt-out merchant matters were litigated to a final outcome, in which case MasterCard cannot estimate the potential liability. MasterCard’s estimate involves significant judgment and may change depending on progress in settlement negotiations or depending upon decisions in any opt-out merchant cases. In addition, in the event that the merchant class litigation settlement approval is overturned on appeal, a negative outcome in the litigation could have a material adverse effect on MasterCard’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
	Canada. In December 2010, a proposed class action complaint was commenced against MasterCard in Quebec on behalf of Canadian merchants. That suit essentially repeated the allegations and arguments of a previously filed application by the Canadian Competition Bureau to the Canadian Competition Tribunal (dismissed in MasterCard’s favor) related to certain MasterCard rules related to point-of-sale acceptance, including the “honor all cards” and “no surcharge” rules. The suit sought compensatory and punitive damages in unspecified amounts, as well as injunctive relief. In the first half of 2011, additional purported class action lawsuits containing similar allegations to the Quebec class action were commenced in British Columbia and Ontario against MasterCard, Visa and a number of large Canadian financial institutions. The British Columbia suit seeks compensatory damages in unspecified amounts, and the Ontario suit seeks compensatory damages of $5 billion. The British Columbia and Ontario suits also seek punitive damages in unspecified amounts, as well as injunctive relief, interest and legal costs. In April 2012, the Quebec suit was amended to include the same defendants and similar claims as in the British Columbia and Ontario suits. With respect to the status of the proceedings: (1) the Quebec suit has been stayed, (2) the Ontario suit is being temporarily suspended while the British Columbia suit proceeds, and (3) the British Columbia court issued an order in March 2014 certifying a number of the merchants’ causes of action. The parties have appealed the certification decision. Additional proposed class action complaints have been filed in Saskatchewan and Alberta with claims that largely mirror those in the British Columbia and Ontario suits. If the class action lawsuits are ultimately successful, negative decisions could have a significant adverse impact on the revenue of MasterCard’s Canadian customers and on MasterCard’s overall business in Canada and could result in substantial damage awards.
	European Union. In December 2007, the European Commission announced a decision that applies to MasterCard’s default cross-border interchange fees for MasterCard and Maestro branded consumer payment card transactions in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) (the European Commission refers to these as “MasterCard’s MIF”). The decision required MasterCard to stop applying the MasterCard MIF and not apply its then recently adopted (but never implemented) Maestro SEPA and Intra-Eurozone default interchange fees to debit card payment transactions within the Eurozone. The decision did not impose a fine on MasterCard, but provides for a daily penalty of up to 3.5% of MasterCard’s daily consolidated global turnover in the preceding business year (which MasterCard estimates to be approximately $1 million per day) in the event that MasterCard fails to comply.
	Following discussions with the European Commission, MasterCard temporarily repealed its then current default intra-EEA cross-border consumer card interchange fees in conformity with the decision. In October 2008, MasterCard received an information request from the European Commission concerning certain pricing changes that MasterCard implemented. In March 2009, MasterCard gave certain undertakings to the European Commission including, among other things, a repeal of the pricing changes and the establishment of new default cross-border consumer card interchange fees such that the weighted average interchange fee does not exceed 30 basis points for credit card transactions and 20 basis points for debit card transactions. In April 2009, the Commissioner for competition policy and the Directorate-General for Competition informed MasterCard that, subject to MasterCard’s fulfilling its undertakings, they did not intend to pursue proceedings for non-compliance with or circumvention of the December 2007 decision or for infringing the antitrust laws in relation to the pricing changes.
	In May 2012, the General Court of the European Union issued a judgment dismissing the Company’s appeal and upholding the European Commission’s decision in these matters. In September 2014, the European Union Court of Justice (the “ECJ”) rejected MasterCard’s appeal of the General Court’s judgment, upholding the European Commission’s December 2007 decision. Although the interim agreement with the European Commission, by its terms, formally ended on the day of the General Court’s judgment, MasterCard intends to act consistent with the terms of the agreement.
	The European Commission decision could lead to additional competition authorities in European Union member states commencing investigations or proceedings regarding domestic interchange fees or initiating regulation. The possibility of such actions has increased due to the final judgment of the ECJ. The judgment also increases the possibility of an adverse outcome for the Company in related and pending matters (such as the interchange proceedings in Hungary, Italy and Poland referenced below). In addition, the European Commission’s decision could lead, and in the case of the United Kingdom and Belgium (as described below) has led, to the filing of private actions against MasterCard Europe by merchants and/or consumers that could result in MasterCard owing substantial damages.
	In April 2013, the European Commission announced that it has opened proceedings to investigate: (1) MasterCard’s interregional interchange fees that apply when a card issued outside the EEA is used at a merchant location in the EEA, (2) central acquiring rules, which apply when a merchant uses the services of an acquirer established in another country and (3) other business rules and practices (including the “honor all cards” rule).
	Additional Litigations in Europe. In the United Kingdom, beginning in May 2012, a number of retailers filed claims against MasterCard seeking damages for alleged anti-competitive conduct with respect to MasterCard’s cross-border interchange fees and its U.K. and Ireland domestic interchange fees. More than 20 different retailers have filed claims or notice of claims.  An additional 13 potential claimant retailers have agreed to delay filing their claims in exchange for MasterCard agreeing to suspend the running of the time limitations on their damages claims.  Although the claimants have not quantified the full extent of their compensatory and punitive damages, their purported damages exceed $2 billion.  MasterCard has submitted statements of defense to the retailers’ claims disputing liability and damages.  The litigations are at an early stage, and the courts in two of the actions will address preliminary issues before addressing issues concerning any liability and damages.  Similarly, in Belgium, a retailer filed claims in December 2012 for unspecified damages with respect to MasterCard’s cross-border and domestic interchange fees paid in Belgium, Greece and Luxembourg.
	Additional Interchange Proceedings. In February 2007, the Office for Fair Trading of the United Kingdom (the “OFT”) commenced an investigation of MasterCard’s current U.K. default credit card interchange fees and so-called “immediate debit” cards to determine whether such fees contravene U.K. and European Union competition law. The OFT informed MasterCard that it did not intend to issue a Statement of Objections or otherwise commence formal proceedings prior to the completion of the appeal to the ECJ of the December 2007 cross-border interchange fee decision. If the Competition and Markets Authority (the successor to the OFT) ultimately determines that any of MasterCard’s U.K. interchange fees contravene U.K. and European Union competition law, it may issue a new decision and possibly levy fines accruing from the date of its first decision. Such a decision could lead to the filing of private actions against MasterCard by merchants and/or consumers which could result in an award or awards of substantial damages and could have a significant adverse impact on the revenue of MasterCard International’s U.K. customers and MasterCard’s overall business in the U.K.
	Regulatory authorities in a number of other jurisdictions around the world, including Hungary, Italy and Poland, have commenced competition-related proceedings or inquiries into interchange fees and acceptance practices. In some of these jurisdictions, fines have been or could be assessed against MasterCard. These matters could have a negative impact on MasterCard’s business in the specific country where the regulatory authority is located but would not be expected to have a material impact on MasterCard’s overall revenue.
	Private Litigations Related to 1998 Department of Justice Antitrust Litigation
	In April 2005, a complaint was filed in California state court on behalf of a putative class of consumers under California unfair competition law (Section 17200) and the Cartwright Act (the “Attridge action”). The claims in this action seek to leverage a 1998 action by the U.S. Department of Justice against MasterCard International, Visa U.S.A., Inc. and Visa International Corp. In that action, a federal district court concluded that both MasterCard’s Competitive Programs Policy and a Visa bylaw provision that prohibited financial institutions participating in the respective associations from issuing competing proprietary payment cards (such as American Express or Discover) constituted unlawful restraints of trade under the federal antitrust laws. The state court in the Attridge action granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ state antitrust claims but denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ Section 17200 unfair competition claims. In September 2009, MasterCard executed a settlement agreement that received final approval by the court in the California consumer actions in August 2010 (see “Consumer Litigations Related to 2003 U.S. Merchant Settlement”). The agreement includes a release that the parties believe encompasses the claims asserted in the Attridge action. In January 2012, the Appellate Court reversed the trial court’s settlement approval and remanded the matter to the trial court for further proceedings. In April 2013, the trial court granted final approval of a revised settlement agreement, to which the plaintiff from the Attridge action and three other objectors have appealed.
	Consumer Litigations Related to 2003 U.S. Merchant Settlement
	Individual or multiple complaints have been brought in 19 states and the District of Columbia alleging state unfair competition, consumer protection and common law claims against MasterCard International (and Visa) on behalf of putative classes of consumers. The claims in these actions largely mirror the allegations made in several class action suits brought by a number of U.S. merchants against MasterCard International and Visa U.S.A., Inc., which were settled in 2003, and assert that merchants, faced with excessive interchange fees, have passed these overhead charges to consumers in the form of higher prices on goods and services sold. MasterCard has successfully resolved the cases in all of the jurisdictions except California, where there continue to be outstanding cases. As discussed above under “Private Litigations Related to 1998 Department of Justice Antitrust Litigation,” in September 2009, the parties to the California state court actions executed a settlement agreement that received final approval from the California state trial court in August 2010, subsequent to which MasterCard made a required payment of $6 million. As noted above in more detail, the plaintiff from the Attridge action and three other objectors have filed appeals of the trial court’s final approval in April 2013 of a revised settlement.
	ATM Non-Discrimination Rule Surcharge Complaints
	In October 2011, a trade association of independent Automated Teller Machine (“ATM”) operators and 13 independent ATM operators filed a complaint styled as a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against both MasterCard and Visa (the “ATM Operators Complaint”).  Plaintiffs seek to represent a class of non-bank operators of ATM terminals that operate ATM terminals in the United States with the discretion to determine the price of the ATM access fee for the terminals they operate. Plaintiffs allege that MasterCard and Visa have violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act by imposing rules that require ATM operators to charge non-discriminatory ATM surcharges for transactions processed over MasterCard’s and Visa’s respective networks that are not greater than the surcharge for transactions over other networks accepted at the same ATM.  Plaintiffs seek both injunctive and monetary relief equal to treble the damages they claim to have sustained as a result of the alleged violations and their costs of suit, including attorneys’ fees.  Plaintiffs have not quantified their damages although they allege that they expect damages to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
	Subsequently, multiple related complaints were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging both federal antitrust and multiple state unfair competition, consumer protection and common law claims against MasterCard and Visa on behalf of putative classes of users of ATM services (the “ATM Consumer Complaints”).  The claims in these actions largely mirror the allegations made in the ATM Operators Complaint described above, although these complaints seek damages on behalf of consumers of ATM services who pay allegedly inflated ATM fees at both bank and non-bank ATM operators as a result of the defendants’ ATM rules.  Plaintiffs seek both injunctive and monetary relief equal to treble the damages they claim to have sustained as a result of the alleged violations and their costs of suit, including attorneys’ fees.  Plaintiffs have not quantified their damages although they allege that they expect damages to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
	In January 2012, the plaintiffs in the ATM Operators Complaint and the ATM Consumer Complaints filed amended class action complaints that largely mirror their prior complaints. In February 2013, the district court granted MasterCard’s motion to dismiss the complaints for failure to state a claim. The plaintiffs’ motion seeking approval to amend their complaints was denied by the district court in December 2013. The plaintiffs have appealed the dismissal of both their complaints and their motion to amend their complaints.

Settlement_and_Other_Risk_Mana

Settlement and Other Risk Management	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Settlement and Other Risk Management [Abstract]	'
Settlement and Other Risk Management	'
	Settlement and Other Risk Management
	MasterCard’s rules guarantee the settlement of many of the MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro branded transactions between its issuers and acquirers (“settlement risk”). Settlement exposure is the outstanding settlement risk to customers under MasterCard’s rules due to the difference in timing between the payment transaction date and subsequent settlement. While the term and amount of the guarantee are unlimited, the duration of settlement exposure is short term and typically limited to a few days. Gross settlement exposure is estimated using the average daily card volume during the quarter multiplied by the estimated number of days to settle. The Company has global risk management policies and procedures, which include risk standards, to provide a framework for managing the Company’s settlement risk. Customer-reported transaction data and the transaction clearing data underlying the settlement exposure calculation may be revised in subsequent reporting periods.
	In the event that MasterCard effects a payment on behalf of a failed customer, MasterCard may seek an assignment of the underlying receivables of the failed customer. Customers may be charged for the amount of any settlement loss incurred during these ordinary course activities of the Company.
	The Company’s global risk management policies and procedures are aimed at managing the settlement exposure. These risk management procedures include interaction with the bank regulators of countries in which it operates, requiring customers to make adjustments to settlement processes, and requiring collateral from customers. MasterCard requires certain customers that are not in compliance with the Company’s risk standards in effect at the time of review to post collateral, typically in the form of cash, letters of credit, or guarantees. This requirement is based on management’s review of the individual risk circumstances for each customer that is out of compliance. In addition to these amounts, MasterCard holds collateral to cover variability and future growth in customer programs. The Company may also hold collateral to pay merchants in the event of an acquirer failure. Although the Company is not contractually obligated under its rules to effect such payments to merchants, the Company may elect to do so to protect brand integrity. MasterCard monitors its credit risk portfolio on a regular basis and the adequacy of collateral on hand. Additionally, from time to time, the Company reviews its risk management methodology and standards. As such, the amounts of estimated settlement exposure are revised as necessary.
	The Company’s estimated settlement exposure from MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro branded transactions was as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(in millions)
	Gross settlement exposure	$	41,827		$	40,657
	Collateral held for settlement exposure	(3,544		)	(3,167		)
	Net uncollateralized settlement exposure	$	38,283		$	37,490
	General economic and political conditions in countries in which MasterCard operates affect the Company’s settlement risk. Many of the Company’s financial institution customers have been directly and adversely impacted by political instability and uncertain economic conditions. These conditions present increased risk that the Company may have to perform under its settlement guarantee. This risk could increase if political, economic and financial market conditions deteriorate further. The Company’s global risk management policies and procedures are revised and enhanced from time to time. Historically, the Company has experienced a low level of losses from financial institution failures.
	MasterCard also provides guarantees to customers and certain other counterparties indemnifying them from losses stemming from failures of third parties to perform duties. This includes guarantees of MasterCard-branded travelers cheques issued, but not yet cashed of $480 million and $503 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, of which $382 million and $403 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, is mitigated by collateral arrangements. In addition, the Company enters into business agreements in the ordinary course of business under which the Company agrees to indemnify third parties against damages, losses and expenses incurred in connection with legal and other proceedings arising from relationships or transactions with the Company. Certain indemnifications do not provide a stated maximum exposure. As the extent of the Company’s obligations under these agreements depends entirely upon the occurrence of future events, the Company’s potential future liability under these agreements is not determinable. Historically, payments made by the Company under these types of contractual arrangements have not been material.

Foreign_Exchange_Risk_Manageme

Foreign Exchange Risk Management	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Foreign Currency Derivatives [Abstract]	'
Foreign Exchange Risk Management	'
	Foreign Exchange Risk Management
	The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to manage risk associated with anticipated receipts and disbursements which are either transacted in a non-functional currency or valued based on a currency other than its functional currency. The Company also enters into foreign currency derivative contracts to offset possible changes in value due to foreign exchange fluctuations of earnings, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the entity. The objective of these activities is to reduce the Company’s exposure to gains and losses resulting from fluctuations of foreign currencies against its functional currencies.
	The Company does not designate foreign currency derivatives as hedging instruments pursuant to the accounting guidance for derivative instruments and hedging activities. The Company records the change in the estimated fair value of the outstanding derivatives at the end of the reporting period on its consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of operations.
	As of September 30, 2014, all forward contracts to purchase and sell foreign currency had been entered into with customers of MasterCard. MasterCard’s derivative contracts are summarized below:
		September 30, 2014						December 31, 2013
		Notional			Estimated Fair			Notional			Estimated Fair
					Value						Value
		(in millions)
	Commitments to purchase foreign currency	$	57		$	3		$	23		$	(1	)
	Commitments to sell foreign currency	1,793			(9		)	1,722			1
	Balance sheet location:
	Accounts receivable 1				$	20					$	13
	Other current liabilities 1				(26		)				(13		)
	1 The fair values of derivative contracts are presented on a gross basis on the balance sheet and are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements, which contain various netting and setoff provisions.
	The amount of gain (loss) recognized in income for the contracts to purchase and sell foreign currency is summarized below:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(in millions)
	Foreign currency derivative contracts
	General and administrative	$	(53	)	$	26		$	(79	)	$	38
	Net revenue	—			3			—			2
	Total	$	(53	)	$	29		$	(79	)	$	40
	The fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts generally reflects the estimated amounts that the Company would receive (or pay), on a pre-tax basis, to terminate the contracts at the reporting date based on broker quotes for the same or similar instruments. The terms of the foreign currency forward contracts are generally less than 18 months. The Company had no deferred gains or losses related to foreign exchange contracts in accumulated other comprehensive income as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 as there were no derivative contracts accounted for under hedge accounting.
	The Company’s derivative financial instruments are subject to both market and counterparty credit risk. Market risk is the risk of loss due to the potential change in an instrument’s value caused by fluctuations in interest rates and other variables related to currency exchange rates. The effect of a hypothetical 10% adverse change in foreign currency rates could result in a fair value loss of approximately $193 million on the Company’s foreign currency derivative contracts outstanding at September 30, 2014 related to the hedging program. Counterparty credit risk is the risk of loss due to failure of the counterparty to perform its obligations in accordance with contractual terms. To mitigate counterparty credit risk, the Company enters into derivative contracts with selected financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors. Generally, the Company does not obtain collateral related to derivatives because of the high credit ratings of the counterparties.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Organization	'
	Organization
	MasterCard Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries, including MasterCard International Incorporated (“MasterCard International” and together with MasterCard Incorporated, “MasterCard” or the “Company”), is a technology company in the global payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses worldwide, enabling them to use electronic forms of payment instead of cash and checks. The Company facilitates the processing of payment transactions including authorization, clearing and settlement, and delivers related products and services. The Company makes payments easier and more efficient by creating a wide range of payment solutions and services through a family of well-known brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®. The Company also provides value-added offerings such as loyalty and reward programs, information services and consulting. The Company’s network is designed to ensure safety and security for the global payments system. A typical transaction on the Company’s network involves four participants in addition to the Company: cardholder, merchant, issuer (the cardholder’s financial institution) and acquirer (the merchant’s financial institution). The Company’s customers encompass a vast array of entities, including financial institutions and other entities that act as “issuers” and “acquirers”, as well as merchants, governments, telecommunication companies and other businesses. The Company does not issue cards, extend credit, determine or receive revenue from interest rates or other fees charged to cardholders by issuers, or establish the “merchant discount” rate charged in connection with the acceptance of cards and other payment devices that carry MasterCard’s brands.
Consolidation and basis of presentation	'
	Consolidation and basis of presentation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MasterCard and its majority-owned and controlled entities, including any variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation. The Company follows accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
	The balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2013. The consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 and as of September 30, 2014 are unaudited, and in the opinion of management, include all normal recurring adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the results for interim periods. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
	The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requirements for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and, consequently, do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP. Reference should be made to the MasterCard Incorporated Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 for additional disclosures, including a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies.
	Non-controlling interest amounts are included in the consolidated statement of operations within other income (expense). For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 income/loss from non-controlling interests was insignificant.
	In December 2012, the Company made a payment into a qualified cash settlement fund related to its U.S. merchant class litigation. The Company has presented these funds as restricted cash for litigation settlement since the use of the funds under the qualified cash settlement fund is restricted for payment under the settlement agreement. In January 2014, $164 million was returned to MasterCard from the qualified cash settlement fund related to the opt-out merchants and has been reclassified to cash and cash equivalents. See Note 12 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) for further detail.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent accounting pronouncements
	Revenue Recognition - In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued accounting guidance that provides a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers and supersedes most of the existing revenue recognition requirements. Under this guidance, an entity 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. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is not permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential effects of this guidance.
	Foreign currency - In March 2013, the FASB issued clarifying accounting guidance on the release of cumulative translation adjustment into net income when an entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or a group of assets that is a business within a foreign entity. The revised accounting guidance became effective January 1, 2014 and did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	Income taxes - In July 2013, the FASB issued accounting guidance that requires entities to present an unrecognized tax benefit net with certain deferred tax assets when specific requirements are met. The Company adopted the revised accounting guidance effective January 1, 2014. This new accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	'
	The components of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for common stock were as follows:
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
		(in millions, except per share data)
	Numerator:
	Net income	$	1,015	$	879	$	2,816	$	2,493
	Denominator:
	Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	1,157		1,205		1,169		1,215
	Dilutive stock options and stock units	3		4		3		4
	Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding 1	1,160		1,209		1,172		1,219
	Earnings per Share
	Basic	$	0.88	$	0.73	$	2.41	$	2.05
	Diluted	$	0.87	$	0.73	$	2.4	$	2.05
	1 For the periods presented, the calculation of diluted EPS excluded a minimal amount of anti-dilutive share-based payment awards.

Fair_Value_and_Investment_Secu

Fair Value and Investment Securities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Marketable Securities [Abstract]	'
Distribution of Financial Instruments, Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis	'
	The distribution of the Company’s financial instruments which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis within the Valuation Hierarchy was as follows:
		September 30, 2014
		Quoted Prices		Significant		Significant			Fair
		in Active		Other		Unobservable			Value
		Markets		Observable		Inputs
		(Level 1)		Inputs		(Level 3)
				(Level 2)
		(in millions)
	Municipal securities	$	—	$	147	$	—		$	147
	U.S. government and agency securities 1	—		254		—			254
	Corporate securities	—		1,006		—			1,006
	Asset-backed securities	—		362		—			362
	Other 2	11		71		11			93
	Total	$	11	$	1,840	$	11		$	1,862
		December 31, 2013
		Quoted Prices		Significant		Significant			Fair
		in Active		Other		Unobservable			Value
		Markets		Observable		Inputs
		(Level 1)		Inputs		(Level 3)
				(Level 2)
		(in millions)
	Municipal securities	$	—	$	267	$	—		$	267
	U.S. government and agency securities 1	—		560		—			560
	Corporate securities	—		1,426		—			1,426
	Asset-backed securities	—		364		—			364
	Other 2	—		79		11			90
	Total	$	—	$	2,696	$	11		$	2,707
	1 Excludes amounts held in escrow related to the U.S. merchant class litigation settlement of $540 million and $723 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, which would be included in Levels 1 and 2 of the Valuation Hierarchy. See Note 6 (Accrued Expenses and Accrued Litigation) and Note 12 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) for further details.
	2 The amounts classified within Level 3 of the Valuation Hierarchy represent auction rate securities (“ARS”) with values that are not currently observable in the market due to the lack of trading in the securities.
Available-for-Sale Investment Securities, Unrealized Gains and Losses	'
	The major classes of the Company’s available-for-sale investment securities, for which unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a separate component of other comprehensive income on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, and their respective amortized cost basis and fair values as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:
		September 30, 2014
		Amortized		Gross		Gross			Fair
		Cost		Unrealized		Unrealized			Value
				Gain		Loss
		(in millions)
	Municipal securities	$	147	$	—	$	—		$	147
	U.S. government and agency securities	254		—		—			254
	Corporate securities	1,005		1		—			1,006
	Asset-backed securities	362		—		—			362
	Other 1	114		—		(15		)	99
	Total	$	1,882	$	1	$	(15	)	$	1,868
		December 31, 2013
		Amortized		Gross		Gross			Fair
		Cost		Unrealized		Unrealized			Value
				Gain		Loss
		(in millions)
	Municipal securities	$	267	$	—	$	—		$	267
	U.S. government and agency securities	560		—		—			560
	Corporate securities	1,425		2		(1		)	1,426
	Asset-backed securities	364		—		—			364
	Other 1	91		—		(1		)	90
	Total	$	2,707	$	2	$	(2	)	$	2,707
	1 Other includes ARS, which are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The unrealized losses related to ARS have been in an unrealized loss position longer than 12 months, but have not been deemed other-than-temporarily impaired.
Maturity Distribution Based on Contractual Terms of Investment Securities	'
	The maturity distribution based on the contractual terms of the Company’s investment securities at September 30, 2014 was as follows:
		Available-For-Sale
		Amortized		Fair Value
		Cost
		(in millions)
	Due within 1 year	$	1,045	$	1,046
	Due after 1 year through 5 years	796		796
	Due after 5 years through 10 years	4		4
	Due after 10 years	12		11
	No contractual maturity	25		11
	Total	$	1,882	$	1,868

Prepaid_Expenses_and_Other_Ass1

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets	'
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(in millions)
	Customer and merchant incentives	$	286	$	239
	Prepaid income taxes	159		36
	Other	157		196
	Total prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	602	$	471
Schedule of Other Assets, Noncurrent	'
	Other assets consisted of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(in millions)
	Customer and merchant incentives	$	541	$	531
	Nonmarketable equity investments	163		229
	Income taxes receivable	92		78
	Other	91		64
	Total other assets	$	887	$	902

Accrued_Expenses_and_Accrued_L

Accrued Expenses and Accrued Litigation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Accrued Expenses	'
	Accrued expenses consisted of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(in millions)
	Customer and merchant incentives	$	1,336	$	1,286
	Personnel costs	365		413
	Advertising	103		149
	Income and other taxes	150		95
	Other	144		158
	Total accrued expenses	$	2,098	$	2,101

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Long-term Debt	'
	Long-term debt at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(in millions)
	2.000% Notes due 2019	$	500		$	—
	3.375% Notes due 2024	1,000			—
		1,500			—
	Less: Unamortized discount	(6		)	—
	Long-term debt	$	1,494		$	—

Stockholders_Equity_Tables

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Schedule of share repurchases and authorizations	'
	The following table summarizes the Company’s share repurchase authorizations of its Class A common stock through September 30, 2014, as well as historical purchases:
		Authorization Dates
		December		February		June		Total
		2013		2013		2012
		(in millions, except average price data)
	Board authorization	$	3,500	$	2,000	$	1,500	$	7,000
	Dollar value of shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2013	**		$	1,088	$	604	$	1,692
	Remaining authorization at December 31, 2013	$	3,500	$	161	$	—	$	3,661
	Dollar value of shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2014	$	3,070	$	161	$	—	$	3,231
	Remaining authorization at September 30, 2014	$	430	$	—	$	—	$	430
	Shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2013	**		19.4		11.7		31.1
	Average price paid per share during the nine months ended September 30, 2013	**		$	56.19	$	51.72	$	54.5
	Shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2014	40.5		1.9		—		42.4
	Average price paid per share during the nine months ended September 30, 2014	$	75.96	$	83.22	$	—	$	76.3
	Cumulative shares repurchased through September 30, 2014	40.5		31.1		31.1		102.7
	Cumulative average price paid per share	$	75.96	$	64.26	$	48.16	$	63.98
	** Not applicable

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	The changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
		Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans			Investment Securities Available-for-Sale			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
		(in millions)
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	93		$	(37	)	$	5		$	61
	Current period other comprehensive income (loss) 1	65			—			(6		)	59
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	158		$	(37	)	$	(1	)	$	120
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	206		$	(29	)	$	1		$	178
	Current period other comprehensive income (loss) 1	(262		)	2			(10		)	(270		)
	Balance at September 30, 2014	$	(56	)	$	(27	)	$	(9	)	$	(92	)
	1 During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, $2 million and $3 million, respectively, of deferred costs related to the Company’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to general and administrative expense. In addition, $1 million and $5 million of net gains on available-for-sale investment securities were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to investment income during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Tax amounts related to these items are insignificant.

ShareBased_Payments_Awards_Gra

Share-Based Payments Awards Granted (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Aggregate Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Compensation Cost for Share-based Payment Arrangements, Allocation of Share-based Compensation Costs by Plan	'
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company granted the following awards under the MasterCard Incorporated 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (“LTIP”). The LTIP is a shareholder-approved omnibus plan that permits the grant of various types of equity awards to employees.
		Granted in 2014	Weighted-Average
			Grant-Date
			Fair Value
		(in thousands)
	Non-qualified stock options	1,685	$14
	Restricted stock units	1,332	$76
	Performance stock units	133	$78

Settlement_and_Other_Risk_Mana1

Settlement and Other Risk Management (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Settlement and Other Risk Management [Abstract]	'
Estimated Settlement Exposure and Portion of Uncollateralized Settlement Exposure for MasterCard-Branded Transactions	'
	The Company’s estimated settlement exposure from MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro branded transactions was as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(in millions)
	Gross settlement exposure	$	41,827		$	40,657
	Collateral held for settlement exposure	(3,544		)	(3,167		)
	Net uncollateralized settlement exposure	$	38,283		$	37,490

Foreign_Exchange_Risk_Manageme1

Foreign Exchange Risk Management (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Foreign Currency Derivatives [Abstract]	'
Derivative contract summary	'
	MasterCard’s derivative contracts are summarized below:
		September 30, 2014						December 31, 2013
		Notional			Estimated Fair			Notional			Estimated Fair
					Value						Value
		(in millions)
	Commitments to purchase foreign currency	$	57		$	3		$	23		$	(1	)
	Commitments to sell foreign currency	1,793			(9		)	1,722			1
	Balance sheet location:
	Accounts receivable 1				$	20					$	13
	Other current liabilities 1				(26		)				(13		)
	1 The fair values of derivative contracts are presented on a gross basis on the balance sheet and are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements, which contain various netting and setoff provisions.
Gain (loss) recognized in income for the contracts to purchase and sell foreign currency summary	'
	The amount of gain (loss) recognized in income for the contracts to purchase and sell foreign currency is summarized below:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(in millions)
	Foreign currency derivative contracts
	General and administrative	$	(53	)	$	26		$	(79	)	$	38
	Net revenue	—			3			—			2
	Total	$	(53	)	$	29		$	(79	)	$	40

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Consolidation and basis of presentation (Details) (U.S. Merchant Litigation - Class Litigation, USD $)	1 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2014
U.S. Merchant Litigation - Class Litigation	'
Consolidation and basis of presentation	'
Amount received from the qualified cash settlement fund	$164

Acquisitions_Details

Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014
	business
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Business combinations that were achieved in stages, with non-controlling interests acquired in previous years	2
Number of Businesses Acquired	5
Total consideration transferred	$389
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	$385

Earnings_Per_Share_Schedule_of

Earnings Per Share Schedule of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Numerator: [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Net income	$1,015		$879		$2,816		$2,493
Denominator: [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Basic EPS weighted-average shares outstanding	1,157		1,205		1,169		1,215
Dilutive stock options and stock units	3		4		3		4
Dilutive EPS weighted-average shares outstanding	1,160	[1]	1,209	[1]	1,172	[1]	1,219	[1]
Earnings per Share [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Basic	$0.88		$0.73		$2.41		$2.05
Diluted	$0.87		$0.73		$2.40		$2.05
[1]	For the periods presented, the calculation of diluted EPS excluded a minimal amount of anti-dilutive share-based payment awards.

Fair_Value_and_Investment_Secu1

Fair Value and Investment Securities Narrative (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Financial Instruments, Financial Liabilities, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Investment income	$8	$11	$21	$30	'
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,500	'	1,500	'	0
Long-term Debt, Carrying Value	$1,494	'	$1,494	'	$0

Fair_Value_and_Investment_Secu2

Fair Value and Investment Securities Distribution of Financial Instruments, Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Amounts held in escrow for the preliminary U.S. merchant class litigation settlement	$540		$723
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	1,862		2,707
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	11		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	1,840		2,696
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	11		11
Municipal securities	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	147		267
Municipal securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	0		0
Municipal securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	147		267
Municipal securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	0		0
US government and agency securities	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	254	[1]	560	[1]
US government and agency securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	0	[1]	0	[1]
US government and agency securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	254	[1]	560	[1]
US government and agency securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	0	[1]	0	[1]
Corporate securities	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	1,006		1,426
Corporate securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	0		0
Corporate securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	1,006		1,426
Corporate securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	0		0
Asset-backed securities	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	362		364
Asset-backed securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	0		0
Asset-backed securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	362		364
Asset-backed securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	0		0
Other	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	93	[2]	90	[2]
Other | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	11	[2]	0	[2]
Other | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	71	[2]	79	[2]
Other | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'		'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures	'		'
Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis	$11	[2]	$11	[2]
[1]	Excludes amounts held in escrow related to the U.S. merchant class litigation settlement of $540 million and $723 million at SeptemberB 30, 2014 and DecemberB 31, 2013, respectively, which would be included in Levels 1 and 2 of the Valuation Hierarchy. See Note 6 (Accrued Expenses and Accrued Litigation) and Note 12 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) for further details.
[2]	The amounts classified within Level 3 of the Valuation Hierarchy represent auction rate securities (bARSb) with values that are not currently observable in the market due to the lack of trading in the securities.

Fair_Value_and_Investment_Secu3

Fair Value and Investment Securities Available-for-Sale Investment Securities, Unrealized Gains and Losses (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Investment Identifier	'		'
Amortized Cost	$1,882		$2,707
Gross Unrealized Gain	1		2
Gross Unrealized Loss	-15		-2
Fair Value	1,868		2,707
Municipal securities	'		'
Investment Identifier	'		'
Amortized Cost	147		267
Gross Unrealized Gain	0		0
Gross Unrealized Loss	0		0
Fair Value	147		267
US government and agency securities	'		'
Investment Identifier	'		'
Amortized Cost	254		560
Gross Unrealized Gain	0		0
Gross Unrealized Loss	0		0
Fair Value	254		560
Corporate securities	'		'
Investment Identifier	'		'
Amortized Cost	1,005		1,425
Gross Unrealized Gain	1		2
Gross Unrealized Loss	0		-1
Fair Value	1,006		1,426
Asset-backed securities	'		'
Investment Identifier	'		'
Amortized Cost	362		364
Gross Unrealized Gain	0		0
Gross Unrealized Loss	0		0
Fair Value	362		364
Other	'		'
Investment Identifier	'		'
Amortized Cost	114	[1]	91	[1]
Gross Unrealized Gain	0	[1]	0	[1]
Gross Unrealized Loss	-15	[1]	-1	[1]
Fair Value	$99	[1]	$90	[1]
[1]	Other includes ARS, which are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The unrealized losses related to ARS have been in an unrealized loss position longer than 12 months, but have not been deemed other-than-temporarily impaired.

Fair_Value_and_Investment_Secu4

Fair Value and Investment Securities Maturity Distribution Based on Contractual Terms of Investment Securities (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Available-For-Sale Amortized Cost	'
Due within 1 year	$1,045
Due after 1 year through 5 years	796
Due after 5 years through 10 years	4
Due after 10 years	12
No contractual maturity	25
Total	1,882
Available-For-Sale Fair Value	'
Due within 1 year	1,046
Due after 1 year through 5 years	796
Due after 5 years through 10 years	4
Due after 10 years	11
No contractual maturity	11
Total	$1,868

Prepaid_Expenses_and_Other_Ass2

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets Schedule of Prepaid Expenses (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Customer and merchant incentives	$286	$239
Prepaid income taxes	159	36
Other	157	196
Total prepaid expense and other current assets	$602	$471

Prepaid_Expenses_and_Other_Ass3

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets Schedule of Other Assets (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
	business
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
The Company acquired controlling interests in investments previously included within nonmarketable equity investments	2	'
Customer and merchant incentives	$541	$531
Nonmarketable equity investments	163	229
Income taxes receivable	92	78
Other	91	64
Total other assets	$887	$902

Accrued_Expenses_Details

Accrued Expenses (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]	'	'
Customer and merchant incentives	$1,336	$1,286
Personnel costs	365	413
Advertising	103	149
Income and other taxes	150	95
Other	144	158
Total accrued expenses	$2,098	$2,101

Accrued_Litigation_Expense_Det

Accrued Litigation Expense (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Loss Contingencies	'	'
Provision related to U.S. merchant litigations	$789	$886
Short-term Reduction in Default Credit Interchange - Accrued Litigation	'	'
Loss Contingencies	'	'
Provision related to U.S. merchant litigations	'	$68

Debt_Details

Debt (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Nov. 16, 2017
			Revolving Credit Facility	2019 Notes	2019 Notes	2024 Notes	2024 Notes	Scenario, Forecast
								Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Aggregate principal amount	'	'	'	$500,000,000	$0	$1,000,000,000	$0	'
Long-term debt principal amount	1,500,000,000	0	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate	'	'	'	2.00%	'	3.38%	'	'
Effective interest rate	'	'	'	2.08%	'	3.43%	'	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	1,484,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	'	'	3,000,000,000	'	'	'	'	2,950,000,000
Less: Unamortized discount	-6,000,000	0	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt	$1,494,000,000	$0	'	'	'	'	'	'

Stockholders_Equity_Details

Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

28 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

28 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

20 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

10 Months Ended

10 Months Ended

In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Jun. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Feb. 28, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Oct. 23, 2014

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

2010 repurchase plan

2012 repurchase plan

2012 repurchase plan

2012 repurchase plan

2012 repurchase plan

2012 repurchase plan

February 2013 Share Repurchase Plan

February 2013 Share Repurchase Plan

February 2013 Share Repurchase Plan

February 2013 Share Repurchase Plan

February 2013 Share Repurchase Plan

December 2013 Share Repurchase Plan

December 2013 Share Repurchase Plan

December 2013 Share Repurchase Plan

Subsequent Event

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

December 2013 Share Repurchase Plan

Class A Common Stock

Class of Stock

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Board authorization

'

$7,000

'

$7,000

'

$2,000

'

'

'

'

$1,500

'

'

'

'

$2,000

'

'

$3,500

'

Dollar value of shares repurchased during period

3,231

3,231

1,692

'

'

'

0

604

'

'

'

161

1,088

'

'

'

3,070

'

'

3,200

Remaining authorization

'

$430

'

$430

$3,661

'

$0

'

$0

$0

'

$0

'

$0

$161

'

$430

$430

$3,500

$310

Average price paid per share

'

$76.30

$54.50

$63.98

'

'

$0

$51.72

$48.16

'

'

$83.22

$56.19

$64.26

'

'

$75.96

$75.96

'

$75.82

Shares repurchased during period

'

42.4

31.1

102.7

'

'

0

11.7

31.1

'

'

1.9

19.4

31.1

'

'

40.5

40.5

'

42.1

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	'	'	'		'
Beginning Balance, Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	'	'	$206		$93
Beginning Balance, Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans	'	'	-29		-37
Beginning Balance, Investment Securities Available-for-Sale	'	'	1		5
Beginning Balance, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'	'	178		61
Current period other comprehensive income (loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	-274	137	-262	[1]	65	[1]
Current period other comprehensive income (loss), Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans	0	-1	2	[1]	0	[1]
Current period other comprehensive income (loss), Investment Securities Available-for-Sale	-6	0	-10	[1]	-6	[1]
Current period other comprehensive income (loss), Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	-280	136	-270	[1]	59	[1]
Ending Balance, Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	-56	158	-56		158
Ending Balance, Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans	-27	-37	-27		-37
Ending Balance, Investment Securities Available-for-Sale	-9	-1	-9		-1
Ending Balance, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	-92	120	-92		120
Deferred costs related to the Company's defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement plans reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to general and administrative expenses	'	'	2		3
Net gains on available-for-sale investment securities reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to investment income	'	'	$1		$5
[1]	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, $2 million and $3 million, respectively, of deferred costs related to the Companybs defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to general and administrative expense. In addition, $1 million and $5 million of net gains on available-for-sale investment securities were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to investment income during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Tax amounts related to these items are insignificant.

ShareBased_Payments_Narrative_

Share-Based Payments Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Class A Common Stock	Class A Common Stock	Non-qualified stock options	Restricted stock units	Performance Shares
Share-Based Payments	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross	'	'	1,685	'	'
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term	'	'	'5 years	'	'
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value	'	'	'	$76	$78
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period	'	'	'	1,332	133
Class A common stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00	'	'	'
Fair value of stock options, per share, estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model	'	'	$14	'	'
Stock options vested, number of annual installments	'	'	'4	'	'
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	'	'	19.10%	'	'
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	'	'	'1 year	'3 years	'3 years
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award Options Term	'	'	'10 years	'	'

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Effective income tax rate	28.50%	29.90%	30.90%	30.50%

Legal_and_Regulatory_Proceedin1

Legal and Regulatory Proceedings (Details) (USD $)

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Feb. 07, 2011

Feb. 07, 2011

Jun. 30, 2008

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Aug. 31, 2010

Mar. 31, 2009

Mar. 31, 2009

Jun. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2012

Jan. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Event Involving Visa Parties, Member Banks and MasterCard

Event Involving Member Banks and MasterCard

Cross Border

Cross Border

Canadian Competition Bureau

State Unfair Competition

Undertakings to European Commission

Undertakings to European Commission

U.S. Merchant Lawsuit Settlement

U.S. Merchant Lawsuit Settlement

U.S. Merchant Lawsuit Settlement

U.S. Merchant Litigation - Class Litigation

U.S. Merchant Litigation - Class Litigation

U.S. Merchant Litigation - Opt Out Merchants

Minimum

United Kingdom Cross-border Interchange and Domestic Interchange

United Kingdom Cross-border Interchange and Domestic Interchange

Debit Card Transactions

Credit Card Transactions

U.S. Merchant Litigation - Class Litigation

plaintiff

Minimum

merchant

plaintiff

Legal And Regulatory

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restricted cash for litigation settlement

$540,000,000

$723,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amount received from the qualified cash settlement fund

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

164,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

Percent of settlement MasterCard would pay

'

'

12.00%

36.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Provision for litigation settlement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20,000,000

770,000,000

'

'

'

95,000,000

'

'

'

Accrued litigation

789,000,000

886,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Daily penalty upon failure to comply European Commission's decision, percentage

'

'

'

'

3.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Daily penalty upon failure to comply European Commission's decision

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Weighted Average Interchange Fee Transaction Basis Point

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.20%

0.30%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Payments for legal settlements

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,000,000

'

'

'

'

790,000,000

'

726,000,000

'

'

'

'

Approximate percentage of merchants that opted out of settlement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25.00%

'

'

Legal proceeding complaints from merchants that have opted out of settlement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30

'

'

Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

13

20

Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value

'

'

'

'

'

'

$5,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$2,000,000,000

Settlement_and_Other_Risk_Mana2

Settlement and Other Risk Management Estimated Settlement Exposure and Portion of Uncollateralized Settlement Exposure for MasterCard-Branded Transactions (Details) (Guarantee Obligations, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Guarantee Obligations	'	'
Risks Inherent in Servicing Assets and Servicing Liabilities	'	'
Gross settlement exposure	$41,827	$40,657
Collateral held for settlement exposure	-3,544	-3,167
Net uncollateralized settlement exposure	$38,283	$37,490

Settlement_and_Other_Risk_Mana3

Settlement and Other Risk Management Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Settlement and Other Risk Management [Abstract]	'	'
Travelers cheques outstanding, notional value	$480	$503
Travelers cheques covered by collateral arrangements	$382	$403

Foreign_Exchange_Risk_Manageme2

Foreign Exchange Risk Management Classification of Outstanding Forward Contracts (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable

Other current liabilities

Other current liabilities

Commitments to purchase foreign currency

Commitments to purchase foreign currency

Commitments to sell foreign currency

Commitments to sell foreign currency

Foreign Exchange Forward

Foreign Exchange Forward

Foreign Exchange Forward

Foreign Exchange Forward

Foreign Exchange Risk Management

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Commitments to purchase/sell foreign currency, Notional

'

'

'

'

'

$57

$23

$1,793

$1,722

Commitments to purchase/sell foreign currency, Estimated Fair Value

'

'

'

'

'

3

-1

-9

1

Forward contracts to purchase and sell foreign currency - Balance sheet location - Accounts receivable

'

20

[1]

13

[1]

'

'

'

'

'

'

Forward contracts to purchase and sell foreign currency - Balance sheet location - Other current liabilities

'

'

'

26

[1]

13

[1]

'

'

'

'

Terms of the foreign currency forward contracts and foreign currency option contracts

'18 months

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Effect of 10% adverse change in foreign currency rates

$193

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

[1]

The fair values of derivative contracts are presented on a gross basis on the balance sheet and are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements, which contain various netting and setoff provisions.

Foreign_Exchange_Risk_Manageme3

Foreign Exchange Risk Management (Details) (Foreign Currency Derivative Contracts, USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Foreign Exchange Risk Management	'	'	'	'
Total gain (loss) for contracts to purchase and sell foreign currency	($53)	$29	($79)	$40
General and administrative	'	'	'	'
Foreign Exchange Risk Management	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) for contracts to purchase and sell foreign currency	-53	26	-79	38
Net revenue	'	'	'	'
Foreign Exchange Risk Management	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) for contracts to purchase and sell foreign currency	$0	$3	$0	$2