| USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | Dec 31, 2012 | Dec 31, 2011 | Dec 31, 2010 | Dec 31, 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Current assets: | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 1,745 | $ 1,666 | $ 1,290 | ||||||||||||||
Restricted cash | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
Short-term investments | 56 | 20 | 26 | ||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts: 2025- $50 ; 2024 - $44 | 3,441 | 2,867 | 2,826 | ||||||||||||||
Inventories: | |||||||||||||||||
Finished goods | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Work-in-process | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Paper and other materials | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Total inventories, net | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Prepaid and other current assets | 858 | 906 | 1,000 | ||||||||||||||
Assets held for sale | 196 | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Assets of businesses held for sale | - | - | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Total current assets | 6,296 | 5,459 | 5,143 | ||||||||||||||
Prepublication costs, net of accumulated amortization: 2011 - $1,066; 2010 - $1,089 | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Total investments and other assets | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Property and equipment: | |||||||||||||||||
Buildings and leasehold improvements | 444 | 433 | 424 | ||||||||||||||
Equipment and furniture | 695 | 655 | 628 | ||||||||||||||
Land | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Total property and equipment | 1,139 | 1,088 | 1,052 | ||||||||||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation | 861 | 823 | 794 | ||||||||||||||
Property and equipment, net | 278 | 265 | 258 | ||||||||||||||
Right of use assets | 413 | 413 | 379 | ||||||||||||||
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets | |||||||||||||||||
Goodwill | 36,475 | 34,917 | 34,850 | ||||||||||||||
Other intangible assets, net | 16,271 | 16,556 | 17,398 | ||||||||||||||
Equity investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries | 603 | 1,774 | 1,787 | ||||||||||||||
Investments and Other Assets | |||||||||||||||||
Asset for pension benefits | 254 | 246 | 238 | ||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other non-current assets | 610 | 591 | 536 | ||||||||||||||
Indefinite-lived intangible assets | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Copyrights - net | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other intangible assets - net | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Net goodwill and other intangible assets | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Total Assets | 61,200 | 60,221 | 60,589 | ||||||||||||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | 610 | 553 | 557 | ||||||||||||||
Accrued royalties | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Accrued compensation and contributions to retirement plans | 988 | 1,073 | 906 | ||||||||||||||
Short-term debt | 718 | 4 | 47 | ||||||||||||||
Income taxes currently payable | 180 | 199 | 121 | ||||||||||||||
Unearned revenue | 4,088 | 3,694 | 3,461 | ||||||||||||||
Accrued legal and regulatory settlements | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Deferred gain on sale leaseback | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other current liabilities | 1,010 | 869 | 1,033 | ||||||||||||||
Liabilities held for sale | 43 | - | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Liabilities of a business held for sale | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities | 7,637 | 6,392 | 6,125 | ||||||||||||||
Other Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt | 12,370 | 11,394 | 11,412 | ||||||||||||||
Lease liabilities – non-current | 494 | 535 | 541 | ||||||||||||||
Pension and other postretirement benefits | 178 | 180 | 199 | ||||||||||||||
Deferred tax liability – non-current | 3,262 | 3,397 | 3,690 | ||||||||||||||
Deferred gain on sale leaseback | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other non-current liabilities | 1,107 | 815 | 522 | ||||||||||||||
Total other liabilities | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 25,048 | 22,713 | 22,489 | ||||||||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interests | 4,917 | 4,252 | 3,800 | ||||||||||||||
Equity: | |||||||||||||||||
Common stock, $1 par value: authorized - 600 million shares; issued: 415 million shares in 2025 and 2024 | 415 | 415 | 415 | ||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 44,117 | 44,321 | 44,231 | ||||||||||||||
Retained income | 23,666 | 20,977 | 18,728 | ||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (697) | (883) | (763) | ||||||||||||||
Less: common stock in treasury - at cost: 2025 - 109 million shares; 2024 - 100 million shares | 36,374 | 31,671 | 28,411 | ||||||||||||||
Total equity – controlling interests | 31,127 | 33,159 | 34,200 | ||||||||||||||
Total equity – noncontrolling interests | 108 | 97 | 100 | ||||||||||||||
Total equity | 31,235 | 33,256 | 34,300 | ||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ 61,200 | $ 60,221 | $ 60,589 |