SALESFORCE.COM, INC., 10-K filed on 3/17/2021
Annual Report
v3.20.4
Document and Entity Information - USD ($)
shares in Millions, $ in Billions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Mar. 15, 2021
Jul. 31, 2020
Cover [Abstract]      
Document Type 10-K    
Document Annual Report true    
Document Period End Date Jan. 31, 2021    
Current Fiscal Year End Date --01-31    
Document Transition Report false    
Entity File Number 001-32224    
Entity Registrant Name salesforce.com, inc.    
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE    
Entity Tax Identification Number 94-3320693    
Entity Address, Address Line One Salesforce Tower    
Entity Address, Address Line Two 415 Mission Street, 3rd Fl    
Entity Address, City or Town San Francisco    
Entity Address, State or Province CA    
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 94105    
City Area Code 415    
Local Phone Number 901-7000    
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share    
Trading Symbol CRM    
Security Exchange Name NYSE    
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Yes    
Entity Voluntary Filers No    
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes    
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes    
Entity Filer Category Large Accelerated Filer    
Entity Small Business false    
Entity Emerging Growth Company false    
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag true    
Entity Shell Company false    
Entity Public Float     $ 139.6
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   921  
Documents Incorporated by Reference Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”), to be filed within 120 days of the Registrant’s fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Report on Form 10-K. Except with respect to information specifically incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K, the Proxy Statement is not deemed to be filed as part of this Form 10-K.    
Amendment Flag false    
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2021    
Document Fiscal Period Focus FY    
Entity Central Index Key 0001108524    
v3.20.4
Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,195 $ 4,145
Marketable securities 5,771 3,802
Accounts receivable, net 7,786 6,174
Costs capitalized to obtain revenue contracts, net 1,146 926
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 991 916
Total current assets 21,889 15,963
Property and equipment, net 2,459 2,375
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 3,204 3,040
Noncurrent costs capitalized to obtain revenue contracts, net 1,715 1,348
Strategic investments 3,909 1,963
Goodwill 26,318 25,134
Intangible assets acquired through business combinations, net 4,114 4,724
Deferred tax assets and other assets, net 2,693 579
Total assets 66,301 55,126
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities 4,355 3,433
Operating lease liabilities, current 766 750
Unearned revenue 12,607 10,662
Total current liabilities 17,728 14,845
Noncurrent debt 2,673 2,673
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 2,842 2,445
Other noncurrent liabilities 1,565 1,278
Total liabilities 24,808 21,241
Commitments and contingencies (See Notes 6 and 14)
Stockholders’ equity:    
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5 shares authorized and none issued and outstanding 0 0
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 1,600 shares authorized, 919 and 893 issued and outstanding at January 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively 1 1
Additional paid-in capital 35,601 32,116
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (42) (93)
Retained earnings 5,933 1,861
Total stockholders’ equity 41,493 33,885
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 66,301 $ 55,126
v3.20.4
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]    
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) $ 0.001 $ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) 5,000,000 5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares) 0 0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares) 0 0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) $ 0.001 $ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) 1,600,000,000 1,600,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares) 919,000,000 893,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) 919,000,000 893,000,000
v3.20.4
Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)
shares in Millions, $ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Revenues:      
Total revenues $ 21,252 $ 17,098 $ 13,282
Cost of revenues:      
Total cost of revenues [1],[2] 5,438 4,235 3,451
Gross profit 15,814 12,863 9,831
Operating expenses:      
Research and development [1],[2] 3,598 2,766 1,886
Marketing and sales [1],[2] 9,674 7,930 6,064
General and administrative [1],[2] 2,087 1,704 1,346
Loss on settlement of Salesforce.org reseller agreement [1],[2] 0 166 0
Total operating expenses [1],[2] 15,359 12,566 9,296
Income from operations 455 297 535
Gains on strategic investments, net [3] 2,170 427 542
Other expense (64) (18) (94)
Income before benefit from (provision for) income taxes 2,561 706 983
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes [4] 1,511 (580) 127
Net income $ 4,072 $ 126 $ 1,110
Basic net income per share (in dollars per share) $ 4.48 $ 0.15 $ 1.48
Diluted net income per share (in dollars per share) $ 4.38 $ 0.15 $ 1.43
Shares used in computing basic net income per share (in shares) 908 829 751
Shares used in computing diluted net income per share (in shares) 930 850 775
Subscription and support      
Revenues:      
Total revenues $ 19,976 $ 16,043 $ 12,413
Cost of revenues:      
Total cost of revenues [1],[2] 4,154 3,198 2,604
Professional services and other      
Revenues:      
Total revenues 1,276 1,055 869
Cost of revenues:      
Total cost of revenues [1],[2] $ 1,284 $ 1,037 $ 847
[1] Amounts include amortization of intangible assets acquired through business combinations, as follows:
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Cost of revenues$662 $440 $215 
Marketing and sales459 352 232 
[2] Amounts include stock-based expense, as follows:
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Cost of revenues$241 $204 $161 
Research and development703 510 307 
Marketing and sales941 852 643 
General and administrative305 219 172 
[3] During fiscal 2021, two of the Company’s strategic investments completed their initial public offering, resulting in an unrealized gain of $1.7 billion as of January 31, 2021.
[4] Amounts include approximately $2.0 billion of one-time benefit from a discrete tax item related to the recognition of deferred tax assets resulting from an intra-entity transfer of intangible property in fiscal 2021, and a benefit related to the partial release of the valuation allowance of $612 million for fiscal 2019.
v3.20.4
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Parenthetical) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Stock-based expenses $ 2,190 $ 1,785 $ 1,283
Unrealized gain 1,800 300  
Discrete tax benefit 2,000    
Partial release of valuation allowance     612
Publicly traded securities      
Unrealized gain 1,743 138 345
Cost of revenues      
Amortization of intangibles acquired through business combinations 662 440 215
Stock-based expenses 241 204 161
Research and development      
Stock-based expenses 703 510 307
Marketing and sales      
Amortization of intangibles acquired through business combinations 459 352 232
Stock-based expenses 941 852 643
General and administrative      
Stock-based expenses $ 305 $ 219 $ 172
v3.20.4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]      
Net income $ 4,072 $ 126 $ 1,110
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of reclassification adjustments:      
Foreign currency translation and other gains (losses) 40 (59) (26)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities and privately held debt securities 15 26 (12)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax 55 (33) (38)
Tax effect (4) (2) (1)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net 51 (35) (39)
Comprehensive income $ 4,123 $ 91 $ 1,071
v3.20.4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity - USD ($)
shares in Millions, $ in Millions
Total
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Common Stock
Additional Paid-in Capital
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Retained Earnings
Retained Earnings
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2018     730          
Beginning balance at Jan. 31, 2018 $ 10,376 $ (17) $ 1 $ 9,752 $ (12) $ (7) $ 635 $ (10)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]                
Common stock issued (in shares)     21          
Common stock issued 695     695        
Shares issued related to business combinations (in shares)     13          
Shares issued related to business combinations 2,195     2,195        
Settlement of convertible notes and warrants (in shares)     6          
Settlement of convertible notes and warrants 4     4        
Stock-based expense 1,281     1,281        
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax (39)       (39)      
Net income 1,110           1,110  
Ending balance (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2019     770          
Ending balance at Jan. 31, 2019 15,605   $ 1 13,927 (58)   1,735  
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]                
Common stock issued (in shares)     21          
Common stock issued 816     816        
Shares issued related to business combinations (in shares)     102          
Shares issued related to business combinations 15,588     15,588        
Stock-based expense 1,785     1,785        
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax (35)       (35)      
Net income 126           126  
Ending balance (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2020     893          
Ending balance at Jan. 31, 2020 33,885   $ 1 32,116 (93)   1,861  
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]                
Common stock issued (in shares)     26          
Common stock issued 1,295     1,295        
Stock-based expense 2,190     2,190        
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax 51       51      
Net income 4,072           4,072  
Ending balance (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2021     919          
Ending balance at Jan. 31, 2021 $ 41,493   $ 1 $ 35,601 $ (42)   $ 5,933  
v3.20.4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Operating activities:      
Net income $ 4,072 $ 126 $ 1,110
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Depreciation and amortization 2,846 2,135 982
Amortization of costs capitalized to obtain revenue contracts, net 1,058 876 737
Expenses related to employee stock plans 2,190 1,785 1,283
Loss on settlement of Salesforce.org reseller agreement [1],[2] 0 166 0
Gains on strategic investments, net [3] (2,170) (427) (542)
Tax benefit from intra-entity transfer of intangible property (2,003) 0 0
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of business combinations:      
Accounts receivable, net (1,556) (1,000) (923)
Costs capitalized to obtain revenue contracts, net (1,645) (1,130) (981)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets (133) (119) (58)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities 1,100 982 287
Operating lease liabilities (830) (728) 0
Unearned revenue 1,872 1,665 1,503
Net cash provided by operating activities 4,801 4,331 3,398
Investing activities:      
Business combinations, net of cash acquired (1,281) (369) (5,115)
Purchases of strategic investments (1,069) (768) (362)
Sales of strategic investments 1,051 434 260
Purchases of marketable securities (4,833) (3,857) (1,068)
Sales of marketable securities 1,836 1,444 1,426
Maturities of marketable securities 1,035 779 146
Capital expenditures (710) (643) (595)
Net cash used in investing activities (3,971) (2,980) (5,308)
Financing activities:      
Proceeds from issuance of debt, net (20) 0 2,966
Proceeds from employee stock plans 1,321 840 704
Principal payments on financing obligations (103) (173) (131)
Repayments of debt (4) (503) (1,529)
Net cash provided by financing activities 1,194 164 2,010
Effect of exchange rate changes 26 (39) 26
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 2,050 1,476 126
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 4,145 2,669 2,543
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 6,195 4,145 2,669
Cash paid during the period for:      
Interest 96 106 94
Income taxes, net of tax refunds 216 129 83
Non-cash investing and financing activities:      
Fair value of equity awards assumed 6 373 480
Fair value of common stock issued as consideration for business combinations $ 0 $ 15,215 $ 1,715
[1] Amounts include amortization of intangible assets acquired through business combinations, as follows:
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Cost of revenues$662 $440 $215 
Marketing and sales459 352 232 
[2] Amounts include stock-based expense, as follows:
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Cost of revenues$241 $204 $161 
Research and development703 510 307 
Marketing and sales941 852 643 
General and administrative305 219 172 
[3] During fiscal 2021, two of the Company’s strategic investments completed their initial public offering, resulting in an unrealized gain of $1.7 billion as of January 31, 2021.
v3.20.4
Summary of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business
Salesforce (the “Company”) is a global leader in customer relationship management ("CRM") technology that brings companies and customers together. With the Customer 360 platform, the Company delivers a single source of truth, connecting customer data across systems, apps and devices to help companies sell, service, market and conduct commerce, from anywhere. Since its founding in 1999, Salesforce has pioneered innovations in cloud, mobile, social, analytics and artificial intelligence (“AI”), enabling companies of every size and industry to transform their businesses in the all-digital, work-from-anywhere era.
Fiscal Year
The Company’s fiscal year ends on January 31. References to fiscal 2021, for example, refer to the fiscal year ending January 31, 2021.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
Significant estimates and assumptions made by management include the determination of:
•the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for business combinations;
•the standalone selling price (“SSP”) of performance obligations for revenue contracts with multiple performance obligations;
•the valuation of privately-held strategic investments, including impairments;
•the recognition, measurement and valuation of current and deferred income taxes and uncertain tax positions;
•the average period of benefit associated with costs capitalized to obtain revenue contracts;
•the useful lives of intangible assets; and
•the fair value of certain stock awards issued.
Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the result of which forms the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.
In December 2019, the novel coronavirus and resulting disease (“COVID-19”) was reported and in March 2020 the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operational and financial performance depends on certain developments, including the duration of the pandemic, the impact on the Company’s customers and its sales and renewal cycles, and the impact on the Company’s employees, as discussed in more detail in Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” As a result, the estimates and assumptions used by the Company may change, as new events occur and additional information is obtained, and such changes will be recognized in the consolidated financial statements as soon as they become known. Actual results could differ from these estimates and any such differences may be material to the Company’s financial statements.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Segments
The Company operates as one operating segment. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. Over the past few years, the Company has completed a number of acquisitions. These acquisitions have allowed the Company to expand its offerings, presence and reach in various market segments of the enterprise cloud computing market.
While the Company has offerings in multiple enterprise cloud computing market segments, including as a result of the Company's acquisitions, and operates in multiple countries, the Company’s business operates in one operating segment because most of the Company's service offerings operate on the Customer 360 Platform, most of the Company's service offerings are
deployed in a nearly identical way, and the Company’s CODM evaluates the Company’s financial information and resources and assesses the performance of these resources on a consolidated basis.
Concentrations of Credit Risk, Significant Customers and Investments
The Company’s financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and accounts receivable. Collateral is not required for accounts receivable. The Company maintains an allowance for its doubtful accounts receivable due to estimated credit losses. This allowance is based upon historical loss patterns, the number of days that billings are past due, an evaluation of the potential risk of loss associated with delinquent accounts and current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions to inform adjustments to historical loss patterns. The Company records the allowance against bad debt expense through the consolidated statement of operations, included in general and administrative expense, up to the amount of revenues recognized to date. Any incremental allowance is recorded as an offset to unearned revenue on the consolidated balance sheet. Receivables are written off and charged against the recorded allowance when the Company has exhausted collection efforts without success.
No single customer accounted for more than five percent of accounts receivable at January 31, 2021 and January 31, 2020. No single customer accounted for five percent or more of total revenue during fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019. As of January 31, 2021 and January 31, 2020, assets located outside the Americas were 15 percent and 12 percent of total assets, respectively. As of January 31, 2021 and January 31, 2020, assets located in the United States were 82 percent and 87 percent of total assets, respectively.
The Company is also exposed to concentrations of risk in its strategic investment portfolio. As of January 31, 2021, the Company held one publicly traded investment with a carrying value that was approximately 35 percent of its total strategic investments, one publicly traded investment with a carrying value greater than 15 percent of its total strategic investments, and one privately held investment with a carrying value that was individually greater than five percent of its strategic investment portfolio. The two publicly held investments represented 53 percent of the total balance of the Company’s strategic investments as of January 31, 2021. As of January 31, 2020, the Company held five investments that were individually greater than five percent of its total strategic investments, of which one was publicly traded and four were privately held.
Revenue Recognition
The Company derives its revenues from two sources: (1) subscription revenues, which are comprised of subscription fees from customers accessing the Company’s enterprise cloud computing services (collectively, “Cloud Services”), software licenses, and from customers paying for additional support beyond the standard support that is included in the basic subscription fees; and (2) related professional services such as process mapping, project management and implementation services. Other revenue consists primarily of training fees.
Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those products or services. If the consideration promised in a contract includes a variable amount, for example, overage fees, contingent fees or service level penalties, the Company includes an estimate of the amount it expects to receive for the total transaction price if it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur.
The Company determines the amount of revenue to be recognized through the application of the following steps:
•Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer;
•Identification of the performance obligations in the contract;
•Determination of the transaction price;
•Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and
•Recognition of revenue when or as the Company satisfies the performance obligations.
The Company’s subscription service arrangements are non-cancelable and do not contain refund-type provisions.
Subscription and Support Revenues
Subscription and support revenues are comprised of fees that provide customers with access to Cloud Services, software licenses and related support and updates during the term of the arrangement.
Cloud Services allow customers to use the Company's multi-tenant software without taking possession of the software. Revenue is generally recognized ratably over the contract term.
With the May 2018 acquisition of MuleSoft, Inc. (“MuleSoft”) and the August 2019 acquisition of Tableau Software, Inc. (“Tableau”), subscription and support revenues also include revenues associated with term software licenses. On-premises software licenses purchased by customers provide the customer with a right to use the software as it exists when made available. Revenues from distinct licenses are generally recognized upfront when the software is made available to the
customer. In cases where the Company allocates revenue to software updates and support revenue, the allocated revenue is recognized as the updates are provided, which is generally ratably over the contract term.
The Company typically invoices its customers annually. Typical payment terms provide that customers pay within 30 days of invoice. Amounts that have been invoiced are recorded in accounts receivable and in unearned revenue or revenue, depending on whether transfer of control to customers has occurred.
Professional Services and Other Revenues
The Company’s professional services contracts are either on a time and materials, fixed fee or subscription basis. These revenues are recognized as the services are rendered for time and materials contracts, on a proportional performance basis for fixed price contracts or ratably over the contract term for subscription professional services contracts. Training revenues are recognized as the services are performed.
Significant Judgments - Contracts with Multiple Performance Obligations
The Company enters into contracts with its customers that may include promises to transfer multiple Cloud Services, software licenses, premium support and professional services. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract with a customer to transfer products or services that are distinct. Determining whether products and services are distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately or combined as one unit of accounting may require significant judgment.
Cloud Services and software licenses are distinct because such offerings are often sold separately. In determining whether professional services are distinct, the Company considers the following factors for each professional services agreement: availability of the services from other vendors, the nature of the professional services, the timing of when the professional services contract was signed in comparison to the subscription start date and the contractual dependence of the service on the customer’s satisfaction with the professional services work. To date, the Company has concluded that professional services included in contracts with multiple performance obligations are distinct.
The Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation on a relative SSP basis. The SSP is the price at which the Company would sell a promised product or service separately to a customer. Judgment is required to determine the SSP for each distinct performance obligation.
The Company determines SSP by considering its overall pricing objectives and market conditions. Significant pricing practices taken into consideration include the Company’s discounting practices, the size and volume of the Company’s transactions, the customer demographic, the geographic area where services are sold, price lists, the Company's go-to-market strategy, historical sales and contract prices. In instances where the Company does not sell or price a product or service separately, the Company determines relative fair value using information that may include market conditions or other observable inputs. As the Company’s go-to-market strategies evolve, the Company may modify its pricing practices in the future, which could result in changes to SSP.
In certain cases, the Company is able to establish SSP based on observable prices of products or services sold or priced separately in comparable circumstances to similar customers. The Company uses a single amount to estimate SSP when it has observable prices.
If SSP is not directly observable, for example when pricing is highly variable, the Company uses a range of SSP. The Company determines the SSP range using information that may include pricing practices or other observable inputs. The Company typically has more than one SSP for individual products and services due to the stratification of those products and services by customer size and geography.
Costs Capitalized to Obtain Revenue Contracts
The Company capitalizes incremental costs of obtaining non-cancelable Cloud Services subscription, ongoing Cloud Services support and license support revenue contracts. For contracts with on-premises software licenses where revenue is recognized upfront when the software is made available to the customer, costs allocable to those licenses are expensed as they are incurred. Capitalized amounts consist primarily of sales commissions paid to the Company’s direct sales force. Capitalized amounts also include (1) amounts paid to employees other than the direct sales force who earn incentive payouts under annual compensation plans that are tied to the value of contracts acquired, (2) commissions paid to employees upon renewals of subscription and support contracts, (3) the associated payroll taxes and fringe benefit costs associated with the payments to the Company’s employees, and (4) to a lesser extent, success fees paid to partners in emerging markets where the Company has a limited presence.
Costs capitalized related to new revenue contracts are amortized on a straight-line basis over four years, which is longer than the typical initial contract period, but reflects the estimated average period of benefit, including expected contract renewals. In arriving at this average period of benefit, the Company evaluated both qualitative and quantitative factors which included the estimated life cycles of its offerings and its customer attrition. Additionally, the Company amortizes capitalized costs for renewals and success fees paid to partners over two years.
The capitalized amounts are recoverable through future revenue streams under all non-cancelable customer contracts. The Company periodically evaluates whether there have been any changes in its business, the market conditions in which it operates or other events which would indicate that its amortization period should be changed or if there are potential indicators of impairment.
Amortization of capitalized costs to obtain revenue contracts is included in marketing and sales expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
During fiscal 2021, the Company capitalized $1.6 billion of costs to obtain revenue contracts and amortized $1.1 billion to marketing and sales expense. During fiscal 2020, the Company capitalized $1.1 billion of costs to obtain revenue contracts and amortized $0.9 billion to marketing and sales expense. During fiscal 2021 the Company offered its direct sales force a partial minimum commission guarantee that would pay the greater of actual commissions earned or a fixed amount of their variable compensation that would have otherwise been paid during the three months ended April 30, 2020 if incremental new business had not been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As these payments were guaranteed, and not a cost to obtain a revenue contract, the amounts were immediately expensed and are reflected in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for fiscal 2021. Costs capitalized to obtain a revenue contract, net on the Company's consolidated balance sheets totaled $2.9 billion as of January 31, 2021 and $2.3 billion as of January 31, 2020. There were no impairments of costs to obtain revenue contracts for fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are stated at fair value.
Marketable Securities
The Company considers all of its marketable debt securities as available for use in current operations, including those with maturity dates beyond one year, and therefore classifies these securities within current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Securities are classified as available for sale and are carried at fair value, with the change in unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported as a separate component on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income until realized. Fair value is determined based on quoted market rates when observable or utilizing data points that are observable, such as quoted prices, interest rates and yield curves. Securities with an amortized cost basis in excess of estimated fair value are assessed to determine what amount of the excess, if any, is caused by expected credit losses, as required by new accounting pronouncement, Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13 (“ASU 2016-13”), discussed in further detail below. Expected credit losses on securities are recognized in other income (expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations, and any remaining unrealized losses, net of taxes, are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders' equity. For the purposes of computing realized and unrealized gains and losses, the cost of securities sold is based on the specific-identification method. Interest on securities classified as available for sale is included as a component of investment income within other expense.
Strategic Investments
The Company holds strategic investments in privately held debt and equity securities and publicly held equity securities in which the Company does not have a controlling interest.
Privately held equity securities which the Company does not have a controlling financial interest in but does exercise significant influence over the investee are accounted for under the equity method. Privately held equity securities not accounted for under the equity method are recorded at cost and adjusted for observable transactions for same or similar investments of the same issuer (referred to as the measurement alternative) or impairment. All gains and losses on privately held equity securities, realized and unrealized, are recorded through gains on strategic investments, net on the consolidated statement of operations. Privately held debt securities are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recorded through comprehensive income on the consolidated balance sheet.
Valuations of privately held securities are inherently complex and require judgment due to the lack of readily available market data. The carrying value is not adjusted for the Company's privately held equity securities if there are no observable price changes in a same or similar security from the same issuer or if there are no identified events or changes in circumstances that may indicate impairment, as discussed below. In determining the estimated fair value of its strategic investments in privately held companies, the Company utilizes the most recent data available to the Company. The Company assesses its privately held debt and equity securities in its strategic investment portfolio at least quarterly for impairment. The Company’s impairment analysis encompasses an assessment of both qualitative and quantitative factors including the investee's financial metrics, market acceptance of the investee's product or technology and the rate at which the investee is using its cash. If the investment is considered impaired, the Company recognizes an impairment through the consolidated statement of operations and establishes a new carrying value for the investment.
Publicly held equity securities are measured at fair value with changes recorded through gains on strategic investments, net on the consolidated statement of operations.
Fair Value Measurement
The Company measures its cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and foreign currency derivative contracts at fair value. In addition, the Company measures its strategic investments, including its publicly held equity securities, privately held debt securities and privately held equity securities for which there has been an observable price change in a same or similar security, at fair value. The additional disclosures regarding the Company’s fair value measurements are included in Note 4 “Fair Value Measurement.”
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company enters into foreign currency derivative contracts with financial institutions to reduce foreign exchange risk. The Company uses forward currency derivative contracts to minimize the Company’s exposure to balances primarily denominated in the Euro, British Pound Sterling, Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen. The Company’s foreign currency derivative contracts, which are not designated as hedging instruments, are used to reduce the exchange rate risk associated primarily with intercompany receivables and payables. The Company’s derivative financial instruments program is not designated for trading or speculative purposes. The Company generally enters into master netting arrangements with the financial institutions with which it contracts for such derivative contracts, which permit net settlement of transactions with the same counterparty, thereby reducing credit-related losses in the event of the financial institutions' nonperformance. Outstanding foreign currency derivative contracts are recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets.
Foreign currency derivative contracts are marked-to-market at the end of each reporting period with gains and losses recognized as other expense to offset the gains or losses resulting from the settlement or remeasurement of the underlying foreign currency denominated receivables and payables. While the contract or notional amount is often used to express the volume of foreign currency derivative contracts, the amounts potentially subject to credit risk are generally limited to the amounts, if any, by which the counterparties’ obligations under the agreements exceed the obligations of the Company to the counterparties. The notional amount of foreign currency derivative contracts as of January 31, 2021 and 2020 was $5.3 billion and $5.5 billion, respectively.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of those assets as follows:
Computers, equipment and software
3 to 9 years
Furniture and fixtures5 years
Leasehold improvements
Shorter of the estimated lease term or 10 years
Buildings and building improvements
10 to 40 years
When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from their respective accounts and any loss on such retirement is reflected in operating expenses.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and classifies its leases at commencement. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and current and noncurrent operating lease liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Assets recognized from finance leases (also referred to as “ROU” assets) are included in property and equipment, accrued expenses and other liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities, respectively, on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term. The corresponding lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. The Company does not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for leases with a term of 12 months or less for any asset classes.
Lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement, net of any future tenant incentives. The Company has lease agreements which contain both lease and non-lease components, which it has elected to combine for all asset classes. As such, minimum lease payments include fixed payments for non-lease components within a lease agreement, but exclude variable lease payments not dependent on an index or rate, such as common area maintenance, operating expenses, utilities, or other costs that are subject to fluctuation from period to period. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease. Periods beyond the noncancellable term of the lease are included in the measurement of the lease liability when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the associated extension option or waive the termination option. The Company reassesses the lease term if and when a significant event or change in circumstances occurs within the control of the Company. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the net present value of future minimum lease payments is determined using the Company’s incremental
borrowing rate. The Company's incremental borrowing rate is an estimate of the interest rate the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis with similar terms and payments, in the economic environment where the leased asset is located.
The lease ROU asset is recognized based on the lease liability, adjusted for any rent payments or initial direct costs incurred or tenant incentives received prior to commencement.
Lease expenses for minimum lease payments for operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Amortization expense of finance lease ROU assets is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, and interest expense for finance lease liabilities is recognized based on the incremental borrowing rate. Expense for variable lease payments are recognized as incurred.
On the lease commencement date, the Company also establishes assets and liabilities for the present value of estimated future costs to retire long-lived assets at the termination or expiration of a lease. Such assets are included in property and equipment and are amortized over the lease term to operating expense.
The Company has entered into subleases or has made decisions and taken actions to exit and sublease certain unoccupied leased office space. Similar to other long-lived assets discussed below, management tests ROU assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. For leased assets, such circumstances would include the decision to leave a leased facility prior to the end of the minimum lease term or subleases for which estimated cash flow do not fully cover the costs of the associated lease.
Intangible Assets Acquired through Business Combinations
Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Each period, the Company evaluates the estimated remaining useful life of its intangible assets and whether events or changes in circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. Management tests for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that could impact the recoverability of these assets.
Impairment Assessment
The Company evaluates intangible assets and long-lived assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. This includes but is not limited to significant adverse changes in business climate, market conditions or other events that indicate an asset's carrying amount may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of each asset to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. If the undiscounted cash flows used in the test for recoverability are less than the carrying amount of these assets, the carrying amount of such assets is reduced to fair value.
The Company evaluates and tests the recoverability of its goodwill for impairment at least annually during its fourth quarter of each fiscal year or more often if and when circumstances indicate that goodwill may not be recoverable.
In fiscal 2021 the Company recorded approximately $216 million of impairments to assets associated with real estate leases in select locations it has decided to exit. There were no other material impairments of intangible assets, long-lived assets or goodwill during fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Business Combinations
The Company uses its best estimates and assumptions to assign fair value to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. The Company’s estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the fair value of these tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. In addition, uncertain tax positions, tax-related valuation allowances and pre-acquisition contingencies are initially recorded in connection with a business combination as of the acquisition date. The Company continues to collect information and reevaluates these estimates and assumptions quarterly and records any adjustments to the Company’s preliminary estimates to goodwill provided that the Company is within the measurement period. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the fair value of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.
In the event the Company acquires an entity with which the Company has a preexisting relationship, the Company will generally recognize a gain or loss to settle that relationship as of the acquisition date within operating income on the consolidated statements of operations. In the event that the Company acquires an entity in which the Company previously held a strategic investment, the difference between the fair value of the shares as of the date of the acquisition and the carrying value of the strategic investment is recorded as a gain or loss and recorded within net gains (or losses) on strategic investments in the consolidated statement of operations.
Stock-Based Expense
Stock-based expenses are measured based on grant date at fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model for stock options and the grant date closing stock price for restricted stock awards. The Company recognizes stock-based expenses related to stock options and restricted stock awards on a straight-line basis, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting term of four years.
Stock-based expenses related to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP” or “2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan”) are measured based on grant date at fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company recognizes stock-based expenses related to shares issued pursuant to the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan on a straight-line basis over the offering period, which is 12 months. The ESPP allows employees to purchase shares of the Company's common stock at a 15 percent discount from the lower of the Company’s stock price on (i) the first day of the offering period or on (ii) the last day of the purchase period and also allows employees to reduce their percentage election once during a six-month purchase period (December 15 and June 15 of each fiscal year), but not increase that election until the next one-year offering period. The ESPP also includes a reset provision for the purchase price if the stock price on the purchase date is less than the stock price on the offering date.
Stock-based expenses related to performance share grants, which are awarded to executive officers and other members of senior management and vest, if at all, based on the Company’s performance over a three-year period relative to the Nasdaq 100. Performance share grants are measured based on grant date at fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation model and expensed on a straight-line basis, net of estimated forfeitures, over the service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting term of three years.
The Company, at times, grants unvested restricted shares to employee stockholders of certain acquired companies in lieu of cash consideration. These awards are generally subject to continued post-acquisition employment. Therefore, the Company accounts for them as post-acquisition stock-based expense. The Company recognizes stock-based expense equal to the grant date fair value of the restricted stock awards, based on the closing stock price on grant date, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally four years. 
Advertising Expenses
Advertising is expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was $787 million, $660 million and $482 million for fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Income Taxes
The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax laws is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company’s tax positions are subject to income tax audits by multiple tax jurisdictions throughout the world. The Company recognizes the tax benefit of an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the position is sustainable upon examination by the taxing authority, solely based on its technical merits. The tax benefit recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit which is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon settlement with the taxing authority. The Company recognizes interest accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the income tax provision.
Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts that are more likely than not expected to be realized based on the weighting of positive and negative evidence. Future realization of deferred tax assets ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character (for example, ordinary income or capital gain) within the carryback or carryforward periods available under the applicable tax law. The Company regularly reviews the deferred tax assets for recoverability based on historical taxable income, projected future taxable income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences and tax planning strategies. The Company’s judgments regarding future profitability may change due to many factors, including future market conditions and the ability to successfully execute its business plans. Should there be a change in the ability to recover deferred tax assets, the tax provision would increase or decrease in the period in which the assessment is changed.
Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency of the Company’s major foreign subsidiaries is generally the local currency. All assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate during the period. Equity transactions are translated using historical exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from translating foreign functional currency financial statements into U.S.
dollars are recorded as a separate component on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in other income in the consolidated statement of operations for the period.
Warranties and Indemnification
The Company’s enterprise cloud computing services are typically warranted to perform in a manner consistent with general industry standards that are reasonably applicable and materially in accordance with the Company’s online help documentation under normal use and circumstances.
The Company’s arrangements generally include certain provisions for indemnifying customers against liabilities if its products or services infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights. To date, the Company has not incurred any material costs as a result of such obligations and has not accrued any material liabilities related to such obligations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
The Company has also agreed to indemnify its directors and executive officers for costs associated with any fees, expenses, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of these persons in any action or proceeding to which any of those persons is, or is threatened to be, made a party by reason of the person’s service as a director or officer, including any action by the Company, arising out of that person’s services as the Company’s director or officer or that person’s services provided to any other company or enterprise at the Company’s request. The Company maintains director and officer insurance coverage that would generally enable the Company to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. The Company may also be subject to indemnification obligations by law with respect to the actions of its employees under certain circumstances and in certain jurisdictions.
New Accounting Pronouncement Adopted in Fiscal 2021
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments," which requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost, and includes the Company's accounts receivable, certain financial instruments and contract assets. ASU 2016-13 results in more timely recognition of credit losses. Effective on February 1, 2020, the Company adopted the provisions and expanded disclosure requirements described in ASU 2016-13. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 was not material to the consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Pronouncement Pending Adoption
In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which modifies and eliminates certain exceptions to the general principles of ASC 740, Income taxes. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020. ASU 2019-12 will be effective for fiscal 2022, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2019-12 to be material.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications to fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 balances were made to conform to the current period presentation in the consolidated statements of cash flows. These reclassifications did not impact the Company's Operating Cash Flows.
v3.20.4
Revenues
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
Revenues Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue
Subscription and Support Revenue by the Company's service offerings
Subscription and support revenues consisted of the following (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Sales $5,191 $4,598 $4,040 
Service 5,377 4,466 3,621 
Platform and Other6,275 4,473 2,854 
Marketing and Commerce3,133 2,506 1,898 
$19,976 $16,043 $12,413 
Total Revenue by Geographic Locations
Revenues by geographical region consisted of the following (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Americas$14,736 $12,051 $9,445 
Europe4,501 3,430 2,553 
Asia Pacific2,015 1,617 1,284 
$21,252 $17,098 $13,282 
Revenues by geography are determined based on the region of the Company's contracting entity, which may be different than the region of the customer. Americas revenue attributed to the United States was approximately 95 percent during fiscal 2021 and 96 percent during fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively. No other country represented more than ten percent of total revenue during fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 respectively.
Contract Balances
Contract Assets
As described in Note 1, subscription and support revenue is generally recognized ratably over the contract term beginning on the commencement date of each contract. License revenue is recognized as the licenses are delivered. The Company records a contract asset when revenue recognized on a contract exceeds the billings. The Company's standard billing terms are annual in advance. Contract assets were $477 million as of January 31, 2021 as compared to $449 million as of January 31, 2020, and are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and deferred tax assets and other assets, net on the consolidated balance sheet. Impairments of contract assets were immaterial during fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Unearned Revenue
Unearned revenue represents amounts that have been invoiced in advance of revenue recognition and is recognized as revenue when transfer of control to customers has occurred or services have been provided. The unearned revenue balance does not represent the total contract value of annual or multi-year, non-cancelable subscription agreements. The Company generally invoices customers in annual installments. The unearned revenue balance is influenced by several factors, including seasonality, the compounding effects of renewals, invoice duration, invoice timing, dollar size and new business linearity within the quarter.
The change in unearned revenue was as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
20212020
Unearned revenue, beginning of period$10,662 $8,564 
Billings and other (1)23,096 18,662 
Contribution from contract asset28 101 
Revenue recognized ratably over time(19,188)(15,586)
Revenue recognized over time as delivered(767)(716)
Revenue recognized at a point in time(1,297)(796)
Unearned revenue from business combinations73 433 
Unearned revenue, end of period$12,607 $10,662 
(1) Other includes, for example, the impact of foreign currency translation.
Revenue recognized ratably over time is generally billed in advance and includes Cloud Services and the related support and advisory services. The majority of revenue recognized for these services is from the beginning of period unearned revenue balance.
Revenue recognized over time as delivered includes professional services billed on a time and materials basis, fixed fee professional services and training classes that are primarily billed, delivered and recognized within the same reporting period.
Revenue recognized at a point in time substantially consists of on-premises software licenses.
Approximately 50 percent of total revenue recognized in fiscal 2021 is from the unearned revenue balance as of January 31, 2020.
Remaining Performance Obligation
Remaining performance obligation represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized and includes unearned revenue and unbilled amounts that will be recognized as revenue in future periods. Transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligation is influenced by several factors, including seasonality, the timing of renewals, the timing of software license deliveries, average contract terms and foreign currency exchange rates. Remaining performance obligation is also impacted by acquisitions. Unbilled portions of the remaining performance obligation denominated in foreign currencies are revalued each period based on the period end exchange rates. Unbilled portions of the remaining performance obligation are subject to future economic risks including bankruptcies, regulatory changes and other market factors.
The Company excludes amounts related to performance obligations that are billed and recognized as they are delivered. This primarily consists of professional services contracts that are on a time-and-materials basis.
The majority of the Company's noncurrent remaining performance obligation is expected to be recognized in the next 13 to 36 months.
Remaining performance obligation consisted of the following (in billions):
 CurrentNoncurrentTotal
As of January 31, 2021$18.0 $18.1 $36.1 
As of January 31, 2020$15.0 $15.8 $30.8 
v3.20.4
Investments
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments Investments
Marketable Securities
At January 31, 2021, marketable securities consisted of the following (in millions):
Investments Classified as Marketable SecuritiesAmortized
Cost		Unrealized
Gains		Unrealized
Losses		Fair Value
Corporate notes and obligations$3,321 $20 $0 $3,341 
U.S. treasury securities205 1 0 206 
Mortgage-backed obligations382 5 0 387 
Asset-backed securities1,096 6 (1)1,101 
Municipal securities242 2 0 244 
Covered bonds328 0 0 328 
Other164 0 0 164 
Total marketable securities$5,738 $34 $(1)$5,771 
At January 31, 2020, marketable securities consisted of the following (in millions):
Investments Classified as Marketable SecuritiesAmortized
Cost		Unrealized
Gains		Unrealized
Losses		Fair Value
Corporate notes and obligations$2,199 $9 $(1)$2,207 
U.S. treasury securities182 1 0 183 
Mortgage-backed obligations225 1 0 226 
Asset-backed securities779 2 0 781 
Municipal securities157 1 0 158 
Covered bonds165 0 0 165 
Other82 0 0 82 
Total marketable securities$3,789 $14 $(1)$3,802 
The contractual maturities of the investments classified as marketable securities are as follows (in millions):
 As of January 31,
 20212020
Due within 1 year$2,525 $1,332 
Due in 1 year through 5 years3,236 2,466 
Due in 5 years through 10 years10 4 
$5,771 $3,802 
Strategic Investments
Strategic investments by form and measurement category as of January 31, 2021 were as follows (in millions):
 Measurement Category
 Fair ValueMeasurement AlternativeOtherTotal
Equity securities$2,068 $1,670 $120 $3,858 
Debt securities0 0 51 51 
Total strategic investments$2,068 $1,670 $171 $3,909 
Strategic investments by form and measurement category as of January 31, 2020 were as follows (in millions):
 Measurement Category
 Fair ValueMeasurement AlternativeOtherTotal
Equity securities$370 $1,502 $40 $1,912 
Debt securities0 0 51 51 
Total strategic investments $370 $1,502 $91 $1,963 
Measurement Alternative Adjustments
The components of privately held equity securities accounted for under the measurement alternative included in the table above are presented below (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
20212020
Carrying amount, beginning of period$1,502 $785 
Adjustments related to privately held equity securities:
Net additions (1)96 507 
Upward adjustments169 280 
Impairments and downward adjustments(97)(70)
Carrying amount, end of period$1,670 $1,502 
(1) Net additions include additions from purchases and reductions due to exits of securities and reclassifications due to changes to capital structure.
In February 2020, the Company made a strategic investment of $150 million in cash for preferred shares of a technology company in a preferred stock financing. The investment was accounted for using the measurement alternative. In June 2020, the Company made a strategic investment of $100 million in cash for preferred shares of a different technology company in a preferred stock financing. The investment was accounted for using the measurement alternative.
In July 2020, one of the Company’s investments, which was previously accounted for under the measurement alternative, completed its initial public offering (“IPO”), resulting in a change of accounting methodology to fair value and the recognition of an unrealized gain of $537 million for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, which is reflected in the table below. As of January 31, 2021, the carrying value of the Company’s remaining investment was $0.7 billion.
In September 2020, one of the Company's investments, which the Company previously accounted for under the measurement alternative, completed its IPO, which resulted in a change of accounting methodology to fair value. Concurrent with the IPO, the Company invested an additional $250 million. As of January 31, 2021, the Company recognized an unrealized gain of $1.2 billion on this investment, which is reflected in the table below. The investment concurrent with the IPO is subject to a lock-up agreement in which the Company's ability to sell is restricted until September 2021, while the remainder of the Company's investment is subject to a lock-up agreement until March 2021. As of January 31, 2021, the carrying value of the Company’s remaining investment was $1.4 billion.
Since the adoption of ASU 2016-01 on February 1, 2018, cumulative impairments and downward adjustments were $238 million and cumulative upward adjustments were $314 million through January 31, 2021 for measurement alternative investments still held as of January 31, 2021.
Gains on strategic investments, net
The components of gains and losses on strategic investments are presented below (in millions):
4Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
202120202019
Unrealized gains recognized on publicly traded equity securities, net$1,743 $138 $345 
Unrealized gains recognized on privately held equity securities, net77 208 133 
Realized gains on sales of equity securities, net367 95 74 
Losses on debt securities, net(17)(14)(10)
Gains on strategic investments, net$2,170 $427 $542 
Realized gains on sales of equity securities, net reflects the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the equity security at the beginning of the period or the purchase date, if later. The cumulative net gain, measured as the sale price less the initial purchase price, for equity securities exited during fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020 was $0.9 billion and $0.4 billion, respectively. Cumulative net realized gains in fiscal 2021 includes gains related to the Company’s sales of its publicly traded investments resulting in a realized gain of $0.3 billion, and a cumulative net gain of $0.6 billion.
Net unrealized gains recognized in fiscal 2021 and 2020 for strategic investments still held as of those respective year ends were $1.8 billion and $0.3 billion, respectively. These include approximately $125 million and $77 million of impairments on privately held equity and debt securities in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, respectively.
v3.20.4
Fair Value Measurement
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurement Fair Value Measurement
The Company uses a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value:
Level 1.    Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2.    Significant other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.
Level 3.    Significant unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.
All of the Company’s cash equivalents, marketable securities and foreign currency derivative contracts are classified within Level 1 or Level 2 because the Company’s cash equivalents, marketable securities and foreign currency derivative contracts are valued using quoted market prices or alternative pricing sources and models utilizing observable market inputs.
The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value as of January 31, 2021 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation (in millions):
DescriptionQuoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1)		Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)		Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)		Balance as of
January 31, 2021
Cash equivalents (1):
Time deposits$0 $1,143 $0 $1,143 
Money market mutual funds377 0 0 377 
Cash equivalent securities 0 1,910 0 1,910 
Marketable securities:
Corporate notes and obligations0 3,341 0 3,341 
U.S. treasury securities0 206 0 206 
Mortgage-backed obligations0 387 0 387 
Asset-backed securities0 1,101 0 1,101 
Municipal securities0 244 0 244 
Covered bonds0 328 0 328 
Other0 164 0 164 
Strategic investments:
Publicly held equity securities2,068 0 0 2,068 
Total assets$2,445 $8,824 $0 $11,269 
(1) Included in “cash and cash equivalents” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet in addition to $2.8 billion of cash, as of January 31, 2021.
The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value as of January 31, 2020 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation (in millions):
DescriptionQuoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1)		Significant Other
Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)		Balance as of January 31, 2020
Cash equivalents (1):
Time deposits$0 $746 $0 $746 
Money market mutual funds1,293 0 0 1,293 
Marketable securities:
Corporate notes and obligations0 2,207 0 2,207 
U.S. treasury securities0 183 0 183 
Mortgage-backed obligations0 226 0 226 
Asset-backed securities0 781 0 781 
Municipal securities0 158 0 158 
Covered bonds0 165 0 165 
Other0 82 0 82 
Strategic investments:
Publicly held equity securities370 0 0 370 
Total assets$1,663 $4,548 $0 $6,211 
(1) Included in “cash and cash equivalents” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet in addition to $2.1 billion of cash, as of January 31, 2020.
Strategic investments measured and recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis
The Company's privately held debt and equity securities and equity method investments are recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis. The estimation of fair value for these investments requires the use of significant unobservable inputs, and as a result, the Company classifies these assets as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. For example, the Company's privately held equity securities that have been remeasured are classified within Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy because the value is based on valuation methods using the observable transaction price and other unobservable inputs including the volatility, rights, and obligations of the securities the Company holds. The Company's privately held debt and equity securities and equity method investments amounted to $1.8 billion as of January 31, 2021 and $1.6 billion as of January 31, 2020.
v3.20.4
Property and Equipment and Other Balance Sheet Accounts
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]  
Property and Equipment and Other Balance Sheet Accounts Property and Equipment and Other Balance Sheet Accounts
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in millions):
 As of January 31,
 20212020
Land $293 $184 
Buildings and building improvements 485 777 
Computers, equipment and software1,901 1,608 
Furniture and fixtures228 226 
Leasehold improvements1,507 1,381 
Property and equipment, gross4,414 4,176 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization(1,955)(1,801)
Property and equipment, net$2,459 $2,375 
Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $579 million, $455 million and $411 million during fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Upon adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) on February 1, 2019, the Company did not use hindsight when determining lease term and therefore included renewal options in the lease term for the leased property at 350 Mission St. (“350 Mission”) in San Francisco. This lease was classified as a finance lease and included in property and equipment as of January 31, 2020. In fiscal 2021, the Company reassessed the lease term for 350 Mission due to management decisions and actions to exit and sublease the majority of this space through the end of the noncancellable term. As a result of the reassessment of the lease term, the ROU asset and corresponding lease liability were remeasured to exclude the estimated lease payments for the renewal option periods and reclassified as operating leases, resulting in the derecognition of $262 million in buildings and building improvements. After remeasurement and reclassification, the lease represented $148 million in operating lease ROU assets. The $225 million in remeasured lease liabilities were also reclassified to operating lease liabilities during the period.
In addition, in fiscal 2021, the Company purchased the property located at 450 Mission St. (“450 Mission”) in San Francisco, California for approximately $150 million, of which $110 million was allocated to land, $34 million to building, which is included in property and equipment, net and $6 million to in-place leases, which is included in intangible assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
Other Balance Sheet Accounts
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities as of January 31, 2021 included approximately $1.7 billion of accrued compensation as compared to $1.5 billion as of January 31, 2020.
v3.20.4
Leases and Other Commitments
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Leases and Other Commitments Leases and Other Commitments
Leases
The Company has operating leases for corporate offices, data centers, and equipment under noncancellable operating leases with various expiration dates. The leases have noncancellable remaining terms of 1 year to 18 years, some of which include options to extend for up to 5 years, and some of which include options to terminate within 1 year.
The components of lease expense were as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
20212020
Operating lease cost$1,208 $913 
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use assets $73 $65 
Interest on lease liabilities 15 20 
Total finance lease cost$88 $85 
Prior to the adoption of Topic 842 on February 1, 2019, the Company recognized operating lease costs on a straight-line basis once control of the space was achieved. Rent expense was $365 million for fiscal 2019.
Supplemental cash flow information related to operating and finance leases was as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
20212020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash outflows for operating leases$905 $827 
Operating cash outflows for finance leases 14 15
Financing cash outflows for finance leases48 164
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases979 509
Supplemental balance sheet information related to operating and finance leases was as follows (in millions):
As of January 31,
20212020
Operating leases:
Operating lease right-of-use assets$3,204 $3,040 
Operating lease liabilities, current$766 $750 
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities2,842 2,445 
Total operating lease liabilities$3,608 $3,195 
Finance leases:
Buildings and building improvements (1)$0 $325 
Computers, equipment and software604 468 
Accumulated depreciation(410)(404)
Property and equipment, net$194 $389 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (1)$35 $53 
Other noncurrent liabilities (1)93 332 
Total finance lease liabilities$128 $385 
(1) As a result of the reassessment of the lease term of 350 Mission, the ROU asset and corresponding lease liability were remeasured to exclude the estimated lease payments for the renewal option periods and reclassified as operating leases, resulting in the derecognition of $262 million in buildings and building improvements. After remeasurement and reclassification, the lease represented $148 million in operating lease ROU assets. The $225 million in remeasured lease liabilities were also reclassified to operating lease liabilities during the period.
Other information related to leases was as follows:
As of January 31,
20212020
Weighted average remaining lease term
Operating leases7 years7 years
Finance leases4 years18 years
Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases2.2 %2.7 %
Finance leases1.9 %4.5 %
As of January 31, 2021, the maturities of lease liabilities under noncancellable operating and finance leases were as follows (in millions):
Operating Leases Finance Leases
Fiscal Period:
Fiscal 2022$822 $37 
Fiscal 2023680 35 
Fiscal 2024508 35 
Fiscal 2025399 26 
Fiscal 2026336 0 
Thereafter1,161 0 
Total minimum lease payments3,906 133 
Less: Imputed interest(298)(5)
Total$3,608 $128 
Operating lease amounts above do not include sublease income. The Company has entered into various sublease agreements with third parties. Under these agreements, the Company expects to receive sublease income of approximately $166 million in the next five years and $34 million thereafter.
As of January 31, 2021, the Company had additional leases that had not yet commenced totaling $1.5 billion and therefore not reflected on the consolidated balance sheet and tables above. These leases include agreements for office facilities to be constructed. These leases will commence between fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2025 with lease terms of 3 to 18 years.
Of the total lease commitment balance, including leases not yet commenced, of $5.4 billion, approximately $4.9 billion is related to facilities space. The remaining commitment amount is primarily related to equipment.
Letters of Credit
As of January 31, 2021, the Company had a total of $100 million in letters of credit outstanding substantially in favor of certain landlords for office space. These letters of credit renew annually and expire at various dates through 2033.
v3.20.4
Business Combinations
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
Business Combinations Business Combinations
Fiscal Year 2021
Vlocity
In June 2020, the Company acquired all outstanding stock of Vlocity, Inc. ("Vlocity"), a leading provider of industry-specific cloud and mobile software. The Company has included the financial results of Vlocity in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition, which were not material to date. The transaction costs associated with its acquisition
were immaterial. The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred for Vlocity was approximately $1.4 billion, which consisted of the following (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash$1,166 
Fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed6 
Fair value of pre-existing relationship208 
Total$1,380 
The fair value of the stock options assumed by the Company was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The share conversion ratio of 0.05817 was applied to convert Vlocity's outstanding equity awards for Vlocity's common stock into equity awards for shares of the Company's common stock.
The following table summarizes the preliminary fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents$12 
Accounts receivable22 
Goodwill1,024 
Intangible assets473 
Other assets15 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, current and noncurrent(35)
Unearned revenue(64)
Deferred tax liability(67)
Net assets acquired$1,380 
The excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill, which is primarily attributed to the assembled workforce and expanded market opportunities, for which there is no basis for U.S. income tax purposes. The fair values assigned to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s estimates and assumptions and may be subject to change as additional information is received. The primary areas that remain preliminary relate to the fair values of intangible assets acquired, certain tangible assets and liabilities acquired, legal and other contingencies as of the acquisition date, income and non-income-based taxes and residual goodwill. The Company expects to finalize the valuation as soon as practicable, but not later than one year from the acquisition date.
The following table sets forth the components of identifiable intangible assets acquired and their estimated useful lives as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair ValueUseful Life
Developed technology$174 4 years
Customer relationships299 8 years
Total intangible assets subject to amortization$473 
Developed technology represents the fair value of Vlocity’s industry-specific cloud and mobile software. Customer relationships represent the fair values of the underlying relationships with Vlocity customers.
The Company assumed unvested options with a fair value of $139 million. Of the total consideration, $6 million was allocated to the purchase consideration and $133 million was allocated to future services and will be expensed over the remaining service periods on a straight-line basis.
The Company had a noncontrolling equity investment in Vlocity valued at $167 million prior to the acquisition. The Company recognized a gain of approximately $41 million as a result of remeasuring its prior equity interest in Vlocity held before the business combination. The gain is included in gains on strategic investments, net in the consolidated statement of operations.
Evergage
In February 2020, the Company acquired all outstanding stock of Evergage Inc. ("Evergage"), for consideration consisting of cash and equity awards assumed. Evergage is a cloud-based real-time personalization and customer data platform. The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred for Evergage was approximately $100 million, which consisted of cash and the fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed. The Company recorded approximately
$25 million for developed technology and customer relationships with estimated useful lives of three to five years. The Company recorded approximately $74 million of goodwill which is primarily attributed to the assembled workforce and expanded market opportunities from integrating Evergage's technology with the Company's other offerings. For the goodwill balance there is no basis for U.S. income tax purposes. The fair values assigned to tangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s estimates and assumptions and may be subject to change as additional information is received and certain tax returns are finalized. The Company expects to finalize the valuation as soon as practicable, but not later than one year from the acquisition date.
The Company has included the financial results of Evergage in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition, which were not material. The transaction costs associated with the acquisition were not material.
Fiscal Year 2020
Tableau Software, Inc.
In August 2019, the Company acquired all outstanding stock of Tableau Software, Inc. (“Tableau”) which provides a self-service analytics platform that enables users to easily access, prepare, analyze, and present findings in their data. The Company has included the financial results of Tableau in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. The transaction costs associated with the acquisition were approximately $40 million and were recorded in general and administrative expense. The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred for Tableau was approximately $14.8 billion, which consisted of the following (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash$1 
Common stock issued14,552 
Fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed292 
Total$14,845 
The fair value of the stock options assumed by the Company was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The share conversion ratio of 1.103 was applied to convert Tableau's outstanding equity awards for Tableau's common stock into equity awards for shares of the Company’s common stock.
The following table summarizes the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents $644 
Marketable securities 456 
Accounts receivable174 
Contract asset131 
Operating lease right-of-use assets361 
Other assets116 
Acquired customer contract asset56 
Goodwill10,806 
Intangible assets3,252 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities(257)
Unearned revenue(242)
Operating lease liabilities(332)
Deferred tax liability and income tax payable(320)
Net assets acquired$14,845 
The excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill, which is primarily attributed to the assembled workforce and expanded market opportunities, for which there is no basis for U.S. income tax purposes.
The following table sets forth the components of identifiable intangible assets acquired and their estimated useful lives as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair Value Useful Life
Developed technology$2,000 5 years
Customer relationships1,231 8 years
Other purchased intangible assets 21 1 year
Total intangible assets subject to amortization$3,252 
Developed technology represents the estimated fair value of Tableau's data analysis technologies. Customer relationships represent the estimated fair values of the underlying relationships with Tableau customers.
The Company assumed unvested stock options and restricted stock awards with an estimated fair value of $1.5 billion. Of the total consideration, $292 million was allocated to the purchase consideration and $1.2 billion was allocated to future services and will be expensed over the remaining service periods on a straight-line basis.
ClickSoftware Technologies, Ltd.
In October 2019, the Company acquired all outstanding stock of ClickSoftware Technologies, Ltd. ("ClickSoftware"), which provides field service management solutions. The Company has included the financial results of ClickSoftware, which were not material, in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. The transaction costs associated with the acquisition were not material. The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred for ClickSoftware was approximately $1.4 billion, which consisted of the following (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash$587 
Common stock issued663 
Fair value of stock options assumed81 
Fair value of pre-existing relationship55 
Total$1,386 
The fair value of the stock options assumed by the Company was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The share conversion ratio of 0.109592 was applied to convert ClickSoftware's outstanding equity awards for ClickSoftware's common stock into equity awards for shares of the Company's common stock.
The following table summarizes the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents$38 
Accounts receivable28 
Goodwill1,132 
Intangible assets276 
Other assets33 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, current and noncurrent(55)
Unearned revenue(40)
Deferred tax liability(26)
Net assets acquired$1,386 
The excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill, which is primarily attributed to the assembled workforce and expanded market opportunities, for which there is no basis for U.S. income tax purposes.
The following table sets forth the components of identifiable intangible assets acquired and their estimated useful lives as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair ValueUseful Life
Developed technology$215 4 years
Customer relationships61 8 years
Total intangible assets subject to amortization$276 
Developed technology represents the fair value of ClickSoftware's field service management technology. Customer relationships represent the fair values of the underlying relationships with ClickSoftware customers.
The Company assumed unvested options with a fair value of $103 million. Of the total consideration, $81 million was allocated to the purchase consideration and $22 million was allocated to future services and will be expensed over the remaining service periods on a straight-line basis.
The Company invested $14 million in a noncontrolling equity investment in ClickSoftware in July 2015. The Company recognized a gain of approximately $39 million as a result of remeasuring its prior equity interest in ClickSoftware held before the business combination. The gain is included in gains on strategic investments, net in the consolidated statement of operations.
Salesforce.org
In June 2019, Salesforce.org, the independent non-profit social enterprise that resold the Company's service offerings to non-profit and higher education organizations, was combined with the Company. The transaction costs associated with the acquisition were not material.
The Company paid a one-time cash payment of $300 million for all shares of Salesforce.org to the independent, non-consolidated Salesforce.com Foundation (also referred to as the Foundation), which is considered a related party as discussed in Note 15 "Related-Party Transactions."
Prior to the business combination, the Company and Salesforce.org had existing reseller and resource sharing agreements that, among other things, allowed Salesforce.org the right to resell select Company offerings and related upgraded support to non-profit organizations and for-profit and non-profit educational institutions free of charge or at discounted prices. Both agreements were effectively settled upon consummation of the business combination.
Using an income approach, the Company assessed the contractual terms and conditions of the reseller agreement as compared to current market conditions, such as the cost to service contracts sold under the reseller agreement, and determined that the terms were not at fair value. Specifically, the reseller agreement provided favorable terms to Salesforce.org by providing the Company's products and services at no cost. As a result, the Company recorded a non-cash charge of approximately $166 million within operating expenses on the date the transaction closed. The loss represents the difference between the value of the remaining performance obligation recorded by Salesforce.org under the reseller agreement and the value of the remaining performance obligation if those same contracts had been sold at fair value.
The following table summarizes the business combination (in millions):
Cash$300 
Loss on settlement of Salesforce.org reseller agreement(166)
Total$134 
The following table summarizes the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents$54 
Deferred tax asset59 
Other current and noncurrent assets46 
Goodwill164 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, current and noncurrent(39)
Unearned revenue(138)
Deferred income taxes and income taxes payable(12)
Net assets acquired$134 
The excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of net liabilities assumed was recorded as goodwill, which is primarily attributed to the assembled workforce and expanded market opportunities, for which there is no basis for U.S. income tax purposes.
MapAnything
In May 2019, the Company acquired all outstanding stock of MapAnything, Inc. ("MapAnything"), which integrates map-based visualization, asset tracking and route optimization for field sales and service teams. The Company has included the financial results of MapAnything, which are not material, in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. The transaction costs associated with the acquisition were not material.
The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred for MapAnything was approximately $213 million, which consisted of cash and the fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed. The Company recorded approximately $53 million for developed technology and customer relationships with estimated useful lives of four to five years. The Company recorded approximately $152 million of goodwill which is primarily attributed to the assembled workforce and expanded market opportunities from integrating MapAnything's technology with the Company's other offerings. The majority of the goodwill balance is not deductible for U.S. income tax purposes.
The Company invested $23 million in a noncontrolling equity investment in MapAnything prior to the acquisition. The Company recognized a gain of approximately $9 million as a result of remeasuring its prior equity interest in MapAnything held before the business combination. The gain is included in gains on strategic investments, net in the consolidated statement of operations.
Fiscal Year 2019
Datorama
In August 2018, the Company acquired all outstanding stock of Datorama, Inc. ("Datorama"), which provides a platform for enterprises, agencies and publishers to integrate data across marketing channels and data sources.
The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred for Datorama was approximately $766 million, which consisted of $136 million of cash, $537 million of common stock issued and $93 million of fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed. The Company recorded approximately $202 million for developed technology and customer relationships with estimated useful lives of one to eight years. The Company recorded approximately $586 million of goodwill which is primarily attributed to the assembled workforce and expanded market opportunities from integrating Datorama’s technology with the Company’s other offerings. The goodwill balance is not deductible for U.S. income taxes purposes.
MuleSoft
In May 2018, the Company acquired all outstanding stock of MuleSoft, which provides a platform for building application networks that connect enterprise apps, data and devices, across any cloud and on-premise solution.
The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred for MuleSoft was approximately $6.4 billion, which consisted of $4.9 billion of cash, $1.2 billion of common stock issued and $387 million of fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed. The Company recorded approximately $1.3 billion for acquired intangible assets, which primarily consisted of $1.0 billion for customer relationships and $224 million for developed technology, with an estimated useful life ranging from one to eight years. Developed technology represents the fair value of MuleSoft's Anypoint technology. Customer relationships represent the fair values of the underlying relationships with MuleSoft customers. The Company recorded approximately $4.8 billion of goodwill which is primarily attributed to the assembled workforce and expanded market opportunities when integrating MuleSoft's Anypoint technology with the Company’s other offerings. The goodwill balance is not deductible for U.S. income tax purposes.
The Company assumed unvested options and restricted stock with a fair value of $824 million. Of the total consideration, $387 million was allocated to the purchase consideration and $437 million was allocated to future services and will be expensed over the remaining service periods on a straight-line basis.
CloudCraze
In April 2018, the Company acquired all outstanding stock of CloudCraze LLC ("CloudCraze"), for consideration consisting of cash and equity awards assumed. CloudCraze is a commerce platform that allows businesses to generate online revenue and scale for growth. CloudCraze delivers interactions across commerce, sales, marketing and service.
The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred for CloudCraze was approximately $190 million, which consisted of cash and the fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed. The Company recorded approximately $58 million for developed technology and customer relationships with estimated useful lives of one to seven years. The Company recorded approximately $134 million of goodwill which is primarily attributed to the assembled workforce and expanded market opportunities from integrating CloudCraze's technology with the Company's other offerings. The goodwill balance is deductible for U.S. income tax purposes.
Pending Acquisition
Slack Technologies, Inc.
In December 2020, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Slack Technologies, Inc. (“Slack”), a leading channel-based messaging platform. Under the terms of the agreement, Slack shareholders will receive $26.79 in cash and 0.0776 shares of Salesforce common stock for each outstanding Slack share of common stock, resulting in an estimated $15.6 billion of cash consideration and 45 million shares of Salesforce common stock to be issued, based on Slack Class A and Class B shares outstanding as of January 31, 2021. The agreement also provides for the Company’s assumption of outstanding
equity awards held by Slack employees. The Company expects to fund the cash portion of the consideration with a combination of new debt and cash on the Company’s balance sheet. See Note 9 “Debt” for further information related to new debt.The acquisition is anticipated to close in the second quarter of fiscal year 2022, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of Slack stockholder approval and the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and receipt of other approvals, consents or clearances under specified antitrust and foreign investment laws.
v3.20.4
Intangible Assets Acquired Through Business Combinations and Goodwill
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Intangible Assets Acquired Through Business Combinations and Goodwill Intangible Assets Acquired Through Business Combinations and Goodwill
Intangible assets acquired through business combinations
Intangible assets acquired through business combinations are as follows (in millions):
Intangible Assets, GrossAccumulated AmortizationIntangible Assets, NetWeighted
Average
Remaining Useful Life (Years)
January 31, 2020Additions and retirements, net (1)January 31, 2021January 31, 2020Expense and retirements, net (1)January 31, 2021January 31, 2020January 31, 2021January 31, 2021
Acquired developed technology$3,598 $(293)$3,305 $(1,249)$(178)$(1,427)$2,349 $1,878 3.2
Customer relationships3,252 258 3,510 (888)(391)(1,279)2,364 2,231 6.8
Other (2)72 (27)45 (61)21 (40)11 5 3.3
Total$6,922 $(62)$6,860 $(2,198)$(548)$(2,746)$4,724 $4,114 5.1
(1) The Company retired $576 million of fully depreciated intangible assets during fiscal 2021, of which $485 million were included in acquired developed technology, $57 million in customer relationships and $34 million in other.
(2) Included in other are in-place leases, trade names, trademarks and territory rights.
Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business combinations for fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $1.1 billion, $792 million and $447 million, respectively.
The expected future amortization expense for intangible assets as of January 31, 2021 is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Period:
Fiscal 2022$1,078 
Fiscal 2023923 
Fiscal 2024835 
Fiscal 2025568 
Fiscal 2026342 
Thereafter368 
Total amortization expense$4,114 
Customer contract assets acquired through business combinations
Customer contract assets resulting from business combinations reflect the fair value of future billings of amounts that are contractually committed by acquired companies' existing customers as of the acquisition date. Customer contract assets are amortized over the corresponding contract terms. Customer contract assets resulting from business combinations were $42 million and $93 million as of January 31, 2021 and January 31, 2020, respectively, and are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price in a business combination over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill amounts are not amortized, but are rather tested for impairment at least annually during the fourth quarter.
The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill, which is generally not deductible for tax purposes, were as follows (in millions):
Balance at January 31, 2019$12,851 
Tableau10,806 
ClickSoftware1,132 
Salesforce.org164 
MapAnything152 
Other acquisitions and adjustments (1)29 
Balance as of January 31, 202025,134 
Evergage74 
Vlocity1,024 
Other acquisitions and adjustments (1)86 
Balance as of January 31, 2021$26,318 
(1) Adjustments include measurement period adjustments for business combinations from the prior year and the effect of foreign currency translation.
v3.20.4
Debt
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt Debt
The carrying values of the Company's borrowings were as follows (in millions):
InstrumentDate of issuanceMaturity dateEffective Interest Rate for Fiscal 2021January 31, 2021January 31, 2020
2023 Senior NotesApril 2018April 20233.26%996 995 
2028 Senior NotesApril 2018April 20283.70%1,491 1,489 
Loan assumed on 50 FremontFebruary 2015June 20233.75%190 193 
Total carrying value of debt2,677 2,677 
Less current portion of debt(4)(4)
Total noncurrent debt$2,673 $2,673 
The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants as of January 31, 2021.
The total estimated fair value of the Company's 2023 and 2028 Senior Notes as of January 31, 2021 and January 31, 2020 were $2.8 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively. These fair values were determined based on the closing trading price per $100 of the 2023 and 2028 Senior Notes as of the last day of trading of fiscal 2021 and last day of fiscal 2020, respectively, and are deemed Level 2 liabilities within the fair value measurement framework.
The expected future principal payments for all borrowings as of January 31, 2021 is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal period:
Fiscal 2022$4 
Fiscal 20234 
Fiscal 20241,182 
Thereafter1,500 
Total principal outstanding$2,690 
Revolving Credit Facility
In December 2020, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement with Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, and certain other institutional lenders (the “Revolving Loan Credit Agreement”) that provides for a $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (“Credit Facility”) that matures in December 2025. The Credit Facility replaced our previous $1.0 billion revolving credit facility. The Company may use the proceeds of future borrowings under the Credit Facility for general corporate purposes which may include, without limitation, financing the consideration for and fees, costs and expenses related to any acquisition.
There were no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility as of January 31, 2021. The Company continues to pay a commitment fee on the available amount of the Credit Facility, which is included within other expense in the Company's consolidated statement of operations.
Interest Expense on Debt
The following table sets forth total interest expense recognized related to debt (in millions), which is included within other expense in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations:
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Contractual interest expense$96 $106 $106 
Amortization of debt issuance costs14 4 16 
Amortization of debt discount0 0 4 
$110 $110 $126 
Slack-Related Financing
In December 2020, in connection with the Company’s entry into the definitive agreement to acquire Slack, the Company obtained commitments from certain financial institutions for a $10.0 billion 364-day senior unsecured bridge loan facility (the “Bridge Facility”), subject to customary conditions, which were subsequently reduced to $7.0 billion in December 2020 following the Company’s entry into the term loan agreement referred to below. In February 2021, the Company elected to further reduce its Bridge Facility commitments to $4.0 billion. The Company may further reduce the commitments in respect of the Bridge Facility prior to the consummation of the acquisition, all or a portion of which reduction may be in connection with the issuance of one or more series of senior secured debt securities and/or other incurrences of indebtedness or commitments in respect thereof.
In December 2020, the Company also entered into a $3.0 billion three-year senior unsecured term loan agreement (“Acquisition Term Loan”) the proceeds of which may be used to finance a portion of the cash consideration for the pending acquisition of Slack, for the repayment of certain debt of Slack and to pay fees, costs and expenses related thereto. The availability and funding of the Bridge Facility and the Acquisition Term Loan are conditioned on the consummation of the acquisition of Slack in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement and is subject to certain exceptions, qualifications and certain other conditions.
For more information regarding the acquisition of Slack, see Note 7 “Business Combinations.”
v3.20.4
Stockholders' Equity
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Stockholders' Equity Stockholders’ Equity
The Company maintains the following stock plans: the ESPP, the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and the 2014 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (“2014 Inducement Plan”).
As of January 31, 2021 and January 31, 2020, $140 million and $107 million, respectively, was withheld on behalf of employees for future purchases under the ESPP and recorded as accrued compensation. Shares purchased under the ESPP were approximately 3.9 million, 3.3 million and 3.5 million during fiscal 2021, fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively.
Options issued have terms of seven years.
The fair value of each stock option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions and fair value per share:
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
Stock Options202120202019
Volatility
28 - 37
%
27 - 30
%
27 - 28
%
Estimated life3.5 years3.5 years3.5 years
Risk-free interest rate
0.2 - 1.4
%
1.6 - 2.5
%
2.5 - 3.0
%
Weighted-average fair value per share of grants$41.24 $39.59 $28.89 
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
ESPP202120202019
Volatility
42 - 48
%
28 - 33
%
23 - 26
%
Estimated life0.75 years0.75 years0.75 years
Risk-free interest rate
0.1 - 0.2
%
1.6 - 2.1
%
2.0 - 2.6
%
Weighted-average fair value per share of grants$64.14 $41.43 $32.90 
The Company estimated its future stock price volatility considering both its observed option-implied volatilities and its historical volatility calculations. Management believes this is the best estimate of the expected volatility over the expected life of its stock options and stock purchase rights.
The estimated life for the stock options was based on an analysis of historical exercise activity. The risk-free interest rate is based on the rate for a U.S. government security with the same estimated life at the time of the option grant and the stock purchase rights.
The estimated forfeiture rate applied is based on historical forfeiture rates. The Company does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future and therefore uses an expected dividend yield of zero in the option pricing model.
In fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, the Company granted performance-based restricted stock unit awards to certain employees, including the Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives. The performance-based restricted stock unit awards are subject to vesting based on a performance-based condition and a service-based condition. At the end of the three-year service period, based on the Company's share price performance, these performance-based restricted stock units will vest in a percentage of the target number of shares between 0 and 200%, depending on the extent the performance condition is achieved.
Stock option activity, excluding the ESPP for fiscal 2021 is as follows:
  Options Outstanding
 Shares
Available for
Grant
(in millions)		Outstanding
Stock
Options
(in millions)		Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price		Aggregate
Intrinsic Value (in millions)
Balance as of January 31, 202077 27 $98.56 
Increase in shares authorized:
2013 Equity Incentive Plan31 
Assumed equity plans1 
Options granted under all plans(8)8 147.80 
Restricted stock activity(19)
Performance-based restricted stock units(2)
Exercised(10)79.12 
Plan shares expired or canceled2 (2)136.34 
Balance as of January 31, 202182 23 $120.61 $2,455 
Vested or expected to vest22 $118.53 $2,341 
Exercisable as of January 31, 202110 $87.40 $1,440 
The total intrinsic value of the options exercised during fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, was $1.2 billion, $799 million, and $784 million, respectively. The intrinsic value of options exercised during each fiscal year is calculated as the difference between the market value of the stock at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the stock option.
The weighted-average remaining contractual life of vested and expected to vest options is approximately 4.5 years.
As of January 31, 2021, options to purchase 10 million shares were vested at a weighted-average exercise price of $87.40 per share and had a weighted-average remaining contractual life of approximately three years. The total intrinsic value of these vested options based on the market value of the stock as of January 31, 2021 was approximately $1.4 billion.
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding as of January 31, 2021:
 Options OutstandingOptions Exercisable
Range of Exercise
Prices		Number
Outstanding
(in millions)		Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
(Years)		Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price		Number of
Shares
(in millions)		Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
$0.36 to $59.34
4 3.0$41.41 4 $42.90 
$59.64 to $118.04
6 3.497.24 4 92.64 
$122.03 to $148.95
2 5.3142.49 1 137.73 
$154.14
6 6.2154.14 0 0.00 
$155.20 to $161.50
4 5.0161.50 1 161.50 
$162.81 to $258.04
1 6.1202.46 0 0.00 
23 4.6$120.61 10 $87.40 
Restricted stock activity for fiscal 2021 is as follows:
 Restricted Stock Outstanding
 Outstanding
(in millions)		Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair ValueAggregate
Intrinsic
Value (in millions)
Balance as of January 31, 202028 $140.14 
Granted - restricted stock units and awards11 165.52 
Granted - performance-based stock units1 154.14 
Canceled(2)144.54 
Vested and converted to shares(13)132.43 
Balance as of January 31, 202125 $155.50 $5,727 
Expected to vest22 $5,058 
The restricted stock, which upon vesting entitles the holder to one share of common stock for each share of restricted stock, has an exercise price of $0.001 per share, which is equal to the par value of the Company’s common stock, and generally vests over four years. The total fair value of shares vested during fiscal 2021 and 2020 was $2.5 billion and $1.9 billion, respectively.
The aggregate expected stock compensation remaining to be recognized as of January 31, 2021 is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Period:
Fiscal 2022$1,923 
Fiscal 20231,273 
Fiscal 2024725 
Fiscal 2025157 
Total stock compensation$4,078 
The aggregate expected stock compensation remaining to be recognized reflects only outstanding stock awards as of January 31, 2021 and assumes no forfeiture activity. The aggregate expected stock compensation remaining will be recognized over a weighted-average period of two years.
Common Stock
The following number of shares of common stock were reserved and available for future issuance at January 31, 2021 (in millions):
Options outstanding23 
Restricted stock awards and units and performance-based stock units outstanding25 
Stock available for future grant or issuance:
2013 Equity Incentive Plan80 
2014 Inducement Plan2 
Amended and Restated 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan7 
137 
Preferred Stock
The Company’s board of directors has the authority, without further action by stockholders, to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. The Company’s board of directors may designate the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preference, sinking fund terms, and number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series. The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of restricting dividends on the Company’s common stock, diluting the voting power of its common stock, impairing the liquidation rights of its common stock, or delaying or preventing a change in control. As of January 31, 2021 and 2020, no shares of preferred stock were outstanding.
v3.20.4
Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
The domestic and foreign components of income before provision for (benefit from) income taxes consisted of the following (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Domestic$2,683 $686 $839 
Foreign(122)20 144 
$2,561 $706 $983 
The provision for (benefit from) income taxes consisted of the following (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Current:
Federal$(12)$8 $0 
State53 33 39 
Foreign238 512 117 
Total279 553 156 
Deferred:
Federal228 (41)(248)
State66 8 (37)
Foreign(2,084)60 2 
Total(1,790)27 (283)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes$(1,511)$580 $(127)
In fiscal 2021, the Company changed its international corporate structure, which included the transfer of certain intangible property to Ireland resulting in a net tax benefit of $2.0 billion related to foreign deferred tax assets. The deferred tax assets were recognized as a result of the book and tax basis difference on the intangible property transferred to an Irish subsidiary and were based on the intangible property’s current fair value. The determination of the estimated fair value of the intangible property is complex and judgmental due to the use of subjective assumptions in the valuation models used by management. The tax amortization related to the intellectual property transferred will be recognized in future periods and any amortization that is unused in a particular year can be carried forward indefinitely under Irish tax laws. The deferred tax asset and the tax benefit were measured based on the currently enacted Irish tax rate. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized in Ireland. In fiscal 2020, the Company recorded a tax provision primarily
driven by incremental tax costs associated with the integration of acquired operations and assets and profitable jurisdictions outside of the United States. In fiscal 2019, the Company released a portion of its valuation allowance related to federal and state deferred tax assets, which was partially offset with the increase in unrecognized tax benefits. In addition, the Company recorded tax expense for profitable jurisdictions outside of the United States.
A reconciliation of income taxes at the statutory federal income tax rate to the provision for (benefit from) income taxes included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations is as follows (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
U.S. federal taxes at statutory rate$538 $148 $206 
State, net of the federal benefit90 40 79 
Effects of non-U.S. operations (1)(1,817)540 379 
Tax credits(125)(195)(132)
Non-deductible expenses45 119 63 
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation(289)(166)(137)
Effect of U.S. tax law change23 6 43 
Change in valuation allowance 15 85 (612)
Other, net9 3 (16)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes$(1,511)$580 $(127)
(1) Fiscal 2021 effects of non-U.S. operations included tax benefit from the transfer of certain intangible property in Ireland. Fiscal 2020 included incremental tax costs associated with the integration of acquired operations and assets.
Deferred Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in millions):
 As of January 31,
 20212020
Deferred tax assets:
Losses and deductions carryforward$202 $218 
Deferred stock-based expense179 193 
Tax credits990 913 
Accrued liabilities269 214 
Intangible assets2,011 0 
Lease liabilities948 769 
Unearned revenue71 4 
Other17 31 
Total deferred tax assets4,687 2,342 
Less valuation allowance(305)(290)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance4,382 2,052 
Deferred tax liabilities:
Capitalized costs to obtain revenue contracts(581)(449)
Purchased intangible assets(833)(915)
Depreciation and amortization(121)(76)
Basis difference on strategic and other investments(400)(69)
Lease right-of-use assets(863)(695)
Total deferred tax liabilities(2,798)(2,204)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)$1,584 $(152)
At January 31, 2021, for federal income tax purposes, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $1.9 billion, which expire in fiscal 2022 through 2038 with the exception of post-2017 losses that do not expire, federal research and development tax credits of approximately $778 million, which expire in fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2041,
foreign tax credits of approximately $178 million, which expire in fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2030. For California income tax purposes, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $725 million which expire beginning in fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2040, California research and development tax credits of approximately $437 million, which do not expire. For other states' income tax purposes, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $871 million, which expire beginning in fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2041 and tax credits of approximately $72 million, which expire beginning in fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2041. Utilization of the Company’s net operating loss carryforwards may be subject to substantial annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations provided by the Internal Revenue Code and similar state provisions. Such an annual limitation could result in the expiration of the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards before utilization.
The Company had a valuation allowance of $305 million and $290 million as of January 31, 2021 and January 31, 2020 respectively. The Company regularly assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets and establishes a valuation allowance if it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of its deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company evaluates and weighs all available positive and negative evidence such as historic results, future reversals of existing deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, as well as prudent and feasible tax-planning strategies. The assessment requires significant judgment and is performed in each of the applicable jurisdictions. The valuation allowance at the end of January 31, 2021 was primarily related to U.S. states’ net operating loss and tax credits, and certain U.S foreign tax credits. The Company will continue to evaluate the need for valuation allowances for its deferred tax assets.
Unrecognized Tax Benefits and Other Considerations
The Company records liabilities related to its uncertain tax positions. Tax positions for the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to income tax audits by multiple tax jurisdictions throughout the world. The Company recognizes the tax benefit of an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the position is sustainable upon examination by the taxing authority, based on the technical merits. The tax benefit recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit which is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon settlement with the taxing authority.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of total unrecognized tax benefits for fiscal years 2021, 2020 and 2019 is as follows (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Beginning of period$1,433 $852 $304 
Tax positions taken in prior period:
Gross increases77 12 474 
Gross decreases(40)(37)(2)
Tax positions taken in current period:
Gross increases107 640 107 
Settlements(87)(27)(15)
Lapse of statute of limitations(19)(4)(10)
Currency translation effect8 (3)(6)
End of period$1,479 $1,433 $852 
In fiscal 2021, the Company reported a net increase of approximately $46 million in its unrecognized tax benefits. In fiscal 2020, the Company reported an increase of approximately $581 million in its unrecognized tax benefits primarily for the incremental tax costs associated with the integration of certain acquired operations and assets. For fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, total unrecognized tax benefits in an amount of $1.3 billion, $1.2 billion and $631 million respectively, if recognized, would have reduced income tax expense and the Company’s effective tax rate.
The Company has recognized interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the income tax provision of $25 million, $2 million and $4 million in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Interest and penalties accrued as of January 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 were $37 million, $12 million and $10 million, respectively.
Certain prior year tax returns are currently being examined by various taxing authorities in countries including the United States, France, Germany, and Japan. The Company believes that it has provided adequate reserves for its income tax uncertainties in all open tax years. As the outcome of the tax audits cannot be predicted with certainty, if any issues addressed in the Company's tax audits are resolved in a manner inconsistent with management's expectations, the Company could adjust its provision for income taxes in the future.
The Company has operations and taxable presence in multiple jurisdictions in the U.S. and outside of the U.S. Tax positions for the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to income tax audits by multiple tax jurisdictions around the world. The Company currently considers U.S. federal, Japan, Australia, Germany, France, United Kingdom, and Israel to be major tax jurisdictions. The Company’s U.S. federal tax returns since fiscal 2008 remain open to examination. With some exceptions, tax
years prior to fiscal 2017 in jurisdictions outside of U.S. are generally closed. However, in Japan, the Company is no longer subject to examinations for years prior to fiscal 2015.
The Company anticipates it is reasonably possible that a decrease of unrecognized tax benefits up to approximately $3 million may occur in the next 12 months, as the applicable statutes of limitations lapse.
v3.20.4
Net Income Per Share
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]  
Net Income Per Share Net Income Per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the fiscal period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by giving effect to all potential weighted average dilutive common stock, including options and restricted stock units. The dilutive effect of outstanding awards and convertible securities is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method.
A reconciliation of the denominator used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share is as follows (in millions):
4Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Numerator:
Net income$4,072 $126 $1,110 
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share908 829 751 
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee stock awards22 21 21 
Convertible senior notes which matured in April 20180 0 1 
Warrants which settled in June and July 20180 0 2 
Adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding and assumed conversions for diluted earnings per share930 850 775 
The weighted-average number of shares outstanding used in the computation of diluted earnings per share does not include the effect of the following potentially outstanding common stock. The effects of these potentially outstanding shares were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Employee stock awards6 7 4 
v3.20.4
Employee Benefit Plans
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Compensation Related Costs [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefit PlansThe Company has a 401(k) plan covering all eligible employees in the United States and a Registered Retirement Savings plan covering all eligible employees in Canada. Since January 1, 2006, the Company has been contributing to the plans. Total Company contributions during fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, were $163 million, $127 million and $106 million, respectively.
v3.20.4
Legal Proceedings and Claims
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Legal Proceedings and Claims Legal Proceedings and Claims
In the ordinary course of business, the Company is or may be involved in various legal or regulatory proceedings, claims or purported class actions related to alleged infringement of third-party patents and other intellectual property rights, commercial, corporate and securities, labor and employment, wage and hour and other claims. The Company has been, and may in the future be put on notice or sued by third parties for alleged infringement of their proprietary rights, including patent infringement.
In general, the resolution of a legal matter could prevent the Company from offering its service to others, could be material to the Company’s financial condition or cash flows, or both, or could otherwise adversely affect the Company’s operating results.
The Company makes a provision for a liability relating to legal matters when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These provisions are reviewed at least quarterly and adjusted to reflect the impacts of negotiations, estimated settlements, legal rulings, advice of legal counsel and other information and events pertaining to a particular matter. The outcomes of legal proceedings and other contingencies are, however, inherently unpredictable and subject to significant uncertainties. At this time, the Company is not able to reasonably estimate the amount
or range of possible losses in excess of any amounts accrued, including losses that could arise as a result of application of non-monetary remedies, with respect to the contingencies it faces, and the Company’s estimates may not prove to be accurate.
In management’s opinion, resolution of all current matters, including all those described below, is not expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position. However, depending on the nature and timing of any such dispute or other contingency, an unfavorable resolution of a matter could materially affect the Company’s current or future results of operations or cash flows, or both, in a particular quarter.
Tableau Litigation
In July and August 2017, two substantially similar securities class action complaints were filed against Tableau and two of its now former executive officers. The first complaint was filed in the U.S. District for the Southern District of New York (the “Scheufele Action”). The second complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington and was voluntarily dismissed on October 17, 2017. In December 2017, the lead plaintiff in the Scheufele Action filed an amended complaint, which alleged that between February 5, 2015 and February 4, 2016, Tableau and certain of its executive officers violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, in connection with statements regarding Tableau’s business and operations by allegedly failing to disclose, among other things, that product launches and software upgrades by competitors were negatively impacting Tableau’s competitive position and profitability. The amended complaint sought unspecified damages, interest, attorneys’ fees and other costs. In February 2018, the lead plaintiff filed a second amended complaint (the "SAC"), which contains substantially similar allegations as the amended complaint, and added as defendants two more of Tableau’s now former executive officers and directors. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the SAC in March 2018, which was denied in February 2019. Defendants filed an answer to the SAC in March 2019, and subsequently amended their answer in April 2019. On January 15, 2020, the court granted lead plaintiff’s motion for class certification. The parties have completed fact and expert discovery. On October 1, 2020, the Court entered an order staying the deadline for summary judgment motions to allow the parties to complete additional discovery. The court has not yet set a trial date. On March 10, 2021, the parties reached an agreement in principle to settle the litigation in its entirety. The parties are negotiating an agreement reflecting the specific terms of settlement.
In August 2018, Tableau was named as a nominal defendant in a purported shareholder derivative action in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, allegedly on behalf of and for the benefit of Tableau, against certain of its now former directors and officers. The derivative action arises out of many of the factual allegations at issue in the Scheufele Action, and generally alleges that the individual defendants breached fiduciary duties owed to Tableau. The complaint seeks unspecified damages and equitable relief, attorneys' fees, costs and expenses. In April 2020, the same purported stockholder who filed the 2018 derivative action, who had previously been a shareholder of Tableau and acquired shares of Salesforce as a result of the acquisition of Tableau by Salesforce in August 2019, filed a “double derivative” action in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, allegedly on behalf of and for the benefit of Salesforce and Tableau, against certain of Tableau’s now former directors and officers. The double derivative complaint adds Salesforce as an additional nominal defendant, but otherwise names the same individual defendants, generally alleges the same purported wrongdoing, and seeks the same relief as the 2018 derivative action. On April 24, 2020, the court consolidated the 2018 and 2020 derivative actions. On June 5, 2020, the parties stipulated, and on June 12, 2020, the court entered an order, vacating the defendants’ deadline to respond to the April 2020 complaint and requiring the plaintiff to file an amended complaint on or before August 11, 2020. On August 11, 2020, the plaintiff filed his amended complaint. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on September 25, 2020. On February 10, 2021, the Court dismissed plaintiff’s amended complaint with leave to amend. Plaintiff’s deadline to file a second amended complaint passed on March 12, 2021, without any amended filings by Plaintiff.
v3.20.4
Related-Party Transactions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related-Party Transactions Related-Party TransactionsIn January 1999, the Salesforce Foundation (the “Foundation”) was chartered on an idea of leveraging the Company’s people, technology and resources to help improve communities around the world. The Company calls this integrated philanthropic approach the 1-1-1 model. The Company’s Chair is the chair of the Foundation and holds one of the three Foundation board seats. The Company does not control the Foundation’s activities, and accordingly, the Company does not consolidate the Foundation’s statement of activities with its financial results. Since the Foundation’s inception, the Company has provided at no charge certain resources to the Foundation including general administrative support and has agreed to use its best efforts to make charitable cash commitments through the third quarter of fiscal 2030. The value of these resources and charitable cash contributions to the Foundation has not been and is not expected to be material.
v3.20.4
Subsequent Event
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Subsequent Events [Abstract]  
Subsequent Event Subsequent EventIn February 2021, the Company acquired all outstanding stock of Acumen Solutions, Inc. (“Acumen”), a professional services firm that provides innovative and critical solutions to clients using the Company’s service offerings and other advanced cloud technologies. The total consideration for Acumen was approximately $433 million, in cash.
v3.20.4
Summary of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Fiscal Year
Fiscal Year
The Company’s fiscal year ends on January 31. References to fiscal 2021, for example, refer to the fiscal year ending January 31, 2021.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
Significant estimates and assumptions made by management include the determination of:
•the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for business combinations;
•the standalone selling price (“SSP”) of performance obligations for revenue contracts with multiple performance obligations;
•the valuation of privately-held strategic investments, including impairments;
•the recognition, measurement and valuation of current and deferred income taxes and uncertain tax positions;
•the average period of benefit associated with costs capitalized to obtain revenue contracts;
•the useful lives of intangible assets; and
•the fair value of certain stock awards issued.
Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the result of which forms the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.
In December 2019, the novel coronavirus and resulting disease (“COVID-19”) was reported and in March 2020 the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operational and financial performance depends on certain developments, including the duration of the pandemic, the impact on the Company’s customers and its sales and renewal cycles, and the impact on the Company’s employees, as discussed in more detail in Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” As a result, the estimates and assumptions used by the Company may change, as new events occur and additional information is obtained, and such changes will be recognized in the consolidated financial statements as soon as they become known. Actual results could differ from these estimates and any such differences may be material to the Company’s financial statements.
Principles of Consolidation
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Segments
Segments
The Company operates as one operating segment. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. Over the past few years, the Company has completed a number of acquisitions. These acquisitions have allowed the Company to expand its offerings, presence and reach in various market segments of the enterprise cloud computing market.
While the Company has offerings in multiple enterprise cloud computing market segments, including as a result of the Company's acquisitions, and operates in multiple countries, the Company’s business operates in one operating segment because most of the Company's service offerings operate on the Customer 360 Platform, most of the Company's service offerings are
deployed in a nearly identical way, and the Company’s CODM evaluates the Company’s financial information and resources and assesses the performance of these resources on a consolidated basis.
Concentrations of Credit Risk, Significant Customers and Investments
Concentrations of Credit Risk, Significant Customers and Investments
The Company’s financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and accounts receivable. Collateral is not required for accounts receivable. The Company maintains an allowance for its doubtful accounts receivable due to estimated credit losses. This allowance is based upon historical loss patterns, the number of days that billings are past due, an evaluation of the potential risk of loss associated with delinquent accounts and current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions to inform adjustments to historical loss patterns. The Company records the allowance against bad debt expense through the consolidated statement of operations, included in general and administrative expense, up to the amount of revenues recognized to date. Any incremental allowance is recorded as an offset to unearned revenue on the consolidated balance sheet. Receivables are written off and charged against the recorded allowance when the Company has exhausted collection efforts without success.
No single customer accounted for more than five percent of accounts receivable at January 31, 2021 and January 31, 2020. No single customer accounted for five percent or more of total revenue during fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019. As of January 31, 2021 and January 31, 2020, assets located outside the Americas were 15 percent and 12 percent of total assets, respectively. As of January 31, 2021 and January 31, 2020, assets located in the United States were 82 percent and 87 percent of total assets, respectively.
The Company is also exposed to concentrations of risk in its strategic investment portfolio. As of January 31, 2021, the Company held one publicly traded investment with a carrying value that was approximately 35 percent of its total strategic investments, one publicly traded investment with a carrying value greater than 15 percent of its total strategic investments, and one privately held investment with a carrying value that was individually greater than five percent of its strategic investment portfolio. The two publicly held investments represented 53 percent of the total balance of the Company’s strategic investments as of January 31, 2021. As of January 31, 2020, the Company held five investments that were individually greater than five percent of its total strategic investments, of which one was publicly traded and four were privately held.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition
The Company derives its revenues from two sources: (1) subscription revenues, which are comprised of subscription fees from customers accessing the Company’s enterprise cloud computing services (collectively, “Cloud Services”), software licenses, and from customers paying for additional support beyond the standard support that is included in the basic subscription fees; and (2) related professional services such as process mapping, project management and implementation services. Other revenue consists primarily of training fees.
Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those products or services. If the consideration promised in a contract includes a variable amount, for example, overage fees, contingent fees or service level penalties, the Company includes an estimate of the amount it expects to receive for the total transaction price if it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur.
The Company determines the amount of revenue to be recognized through the application of the following steps:
•Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer;
•Identification of the performance obligations in the contract;
•Determination of the transaction price;
•Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and
•Recognition of revenue when or as the Company satisfies the performance obligations.
The Company’s subscription service arrangements are non-cancelable and do not contain refund-type provisions.
Subscription and Support Revenues
Subscription and support revenues are comprised of fees that provide customers with access to Cloud Services, software licenses and related support and updates during the term of the arrangement.
Cloud Services allow customers to use the Company's multi-tenant software without taking possession of the software. Revenue is generally recognized ratably over the contract term.
With the May 2018 acquisition of MuleSoft, Inc. (“MuleSoft”) and the August 2019 acquisition of Tableau Software, Inc. (“Tableau”), subscription and support revenues also include revenues associated with term software licenses. On-premises software licenses purchased by customers provide the customer with a right to use the software as it exists when made available. Revenues from distinct licenses are generally recognized upfront when the software is made available to the
customer. In cases where the Company allocates revenue to software updates and support revenue, the allocated revenue is recognized as the updates are provided, which is generally ratably over the contract term.
The Company typically invoices its customers annually. Typical payment terms provide that customers pay within 30 days of invoice. Amounts that have been invoiced are recorded in accounts receivable and in unearned revenue or revenue, depending on whether transfer of control to customers has occurred.
Professional Services and Other Revenues
The Company’s professional services contracts are either on a time and materials, fixed fee or subscription basis. These revenues are recognized as the services are rendered for time and materials contracts, on a proportional performance basis for fixed price contracts or ratably over the contract term for subscription professional services contracts. Training revenues are recognized as the services are performed.
Significant Judgments - Contracts with Multiple Performance Obligations
The Company enters into contracts with its customers that may include promises to transfer multiple Cloud Services, software licenses, premium support and professional services. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract with a customer to transfer products or services that are distinct. Determining whether products and services are distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately or combined as one unit of accounting may require significant judgment.
Cloud Services and software licenses are distinct because such offerings are often sold separately. In determining whether professional services are distinct, the Company considers the following factors for each professional services agreement: availability of the services from other vendors, the nature of the professional services, the timing of when the professional services contract was signed in comparison to the subscription start date and the contractual dependence of the service on the customer’s satisfaction with the professional services work. To date, the Company has concluded that professional services included in contracts with multiple performance obligations are distinct.
The Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation on a relative SSP basis. The SSP is the price at which the Company would sell a promised product or service separately to a customer. Judgment is required to determine the SSP for each distinct performance obligation.
The Company determines SSP by considering its overall pricing objectives and market conditions. Significant pricing practices taken into consideration include the Company’s discounting practices, the size and volume of the Company’s transactions, the customer demographic, the geographic area where services are sold, price lists, the Company's go-to-market strategy, historical sales and contract prices. In instances where the Company does not sell or price a product or service separately, the Company determines relative fair value using information that may include market conditions or other observable inputs. As the Company’s go-to-market strategies evolve, the Company may modify its pricing practices in the future, which could result in changes to SSP.
In certain cases, the Company is able to establish SSP based on observable prices of products or services sold or priced separately in comparable circumstances to similar customers. The Company uses a single amount to estimate SSP when it has observable prices.
If SSP is not directly observable, for example when pricing is highly variable, the Company uses a range of SSP. The Company determines the SSP range using information that may include pricing practices or other observable inputs. The Company typically has more than one SSP for individual products and services due to the stratification of those products and services by customer size and geography.
Costs Capitalized to Obtain Revenue Contracts
The Company capitalizes incremental costs of obtaining non-cancelable Cloud Services subscription, ongoing Cloud Services support and license support revenue contracts. For contracts with on-premises software licenses where revenue is recognized upfront when the software is made available to the customer, costs allocable to those licenses are expensed as they are incurred. Capitalized amounts consist primarily of sales commissions paid to the Company’s direct sales force. Capitalized amounts also include (1) amounts paid to employees other than the direct sales force who earn incentive payouts under annual compensation plans that are tied to the value of contracts acquired, (2) commissions paid to employees upon renewals of subscription and support contracts, (3) the associated payroll taxes and fringe benefit costs associated with the payments to the Company’s employees, and (4) to a lesser extent, success fees paid to partners in emerging markets where the Company has a limited presence.
Costs capitalized related to new revenue contracts are amortized on a straight-line basis over four years, which is longer than the typical initial contract period, but reflects the estimated average period of benefit, including expected contract renewals. In arriving at this average period of benefit, the Company evaluated both qualitative and quantitative factors which included the estimated life cycles of its offerings and its customer attrition. Additionally, the Company amortizes capitalized costs for renewals and success fees paid to partners over two years.
The capitalized amounts are recoverable through future revenue streams under all non-cancelable customer contracts. The Company periodically evaluates whether there have been any changes in its business, the market conditions in which it operates or other events which would indicate that its amortization period should be changed or if there are potential indicators of impairment.
Amortization of capitalized costs to obtain revenue contracts is included in marketing and sales expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are stated at fair value.
Marketable Securities
Marketable Securities
The Company considers all of its marketable debt securities as available for use in current operations, including those with maturity dates beyond one year, and therefore classifies these securities within current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Securities are classified as available for sale and are carried at fair value, with the change in unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported as a separate component on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income until realized. Fair value is determined based on quoted market rates when observable or utilizing data points that are observable, such as quoted prices, interest rates and yield curves. Securities with an amortized cost basis in excess of estimated fair value are assessed to determine what amount of the excess, if any, is caused by expected credit losses, as required by new accounting pronouncement, Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13 (“ASU 2016-13”), discussed in further detail below. Expected credit losses on securities are recognized in other income (expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations, and any remaining unrealized losses, net of taxes, are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders' equity. For the purposes of computing realized and unrealized gains and losses, the cost of securities sold is based on the specific-identification method. Interest on securities classified as available for sale is included as a component of investment income within other expense.
Strategic Investments
Strategic Investments
The Company holds strategic investments in privately held debt and equity securities and publicly held equity securities in which the Company does not have a controlling interest.
Privately held equity securities which the Company does not have a controlling financial interest in but does exercise significant influence over the investee are accounted for under the equity method. Privately held equity securities not accounted for under the equity method are recorded at cost and adjusted for observable transactions for same or similar investments of the same issuer (referred to as the measurement alternative) or impairment. All gains and losses on privately held equity securities, realized and unrealized, are recorded through gains on strategic investments, net on the consolidated statement of operations. Privately held debt securities are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recorded through comprehensive income on the consolidated balance sheet.
Valuations of privately held securities are inherently complex and require judgment due to the lack of readily available market data. The carrying value is not adjusted for the Company's privately held equity securities if there are no observable price changes in a same or similar security from the same issuer or if there are no identified events or changes in circumstances that may indicate impairment, as discussed below. In determining the estimated fair value of its strategic investments in privately held companies, the Company utilizes the most recent data available to the Company. The Company assesses its privately held debt and equity securities in its strategic investment portfolio at least quarterly for impairment. The Company’s impairment analysis encompasses an assessment of both qualitative and quantitative factors including the investee's financial metrics, market acceptance of the investee's product or technology and the rate at which the investee is using its cash. If the investment is considered impaired, the Company recognizes an impairment through the consolidated statement of operations and establishes a new carrying value for the investment.
Publicly held equity securities are measured at fair value with changes recorded through gains on strategic investments, net on the consolidated statement of operations.
Fair Value Measurement
Fair Value Measurement
The Company measures its cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and foreign currency derivative contracts at fair value. In addition, the Company measures its strategic investments, including its publicly held equity securities, privately held debt securities and privately held equity securities for which there has been an observable price change in a same or similar security, at fair value. The additional disclosures regarding the Company’s fair value measurements are included in Note 4 “Fair Value Measurement.”
Derivative Financial Instruments
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company enters into foreign currency derivative contracts with financial institutions to reduce foreign exchange risk. The Company uses forward currency derivative contracts to minimize the Company’s exposure to balances primarily denominated in the Euro, British Pound Sterling, Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen. The Company’s foreign currency derivative contracts, which are not designated as hedging instruments, are used to reduce the exchange rate risk associated primarily with intercompany receivables and payables. The Company’s derivative financial instruments program is not designated for trading or speculative purposes. The Company generally enters into master netting arrangements with the financial institutions with which it contracts for such derivative contracts, which permit net settlement of transactions with the same counterparty, thereby reducing credit-related losses in the event of the financial institutions' nonperformance. Outstanding foreign currency derivative contracts are recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets.
Foreign currency derivative contracts are marked-to-market at the end of each reporting period with gains and losses recognized as other expense to offset the gains or losses resulting from the settlement or remeasurement of the underlying foreign currency denominated receivables and payables. While the contract or notional amount is often used to express the volume of foreign currency derivative contracts, the amounts potentially subject to credit risk are generally limited to the amounts, if any, by which the counterparties’ obligations under the agreements exceed the obligations of the Company to the counterparties
Property and Equipment
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of those assets as follows:
Computers, equipment and software
3 to 9 years
Furniture and fixtures5 years
Leasehold improvements
Shorter of the estimated lease term or 10 years
Buildings and building improvements
10 to 40 years
When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from their respective accounts and any loss on such retirement is reflected in operating expenses.
Leases
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and classifies its leases at commencement. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and current and noncurrent operating lease liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Assets recognized from finance leases (also referred to as “ROU” assets) are included in property and equipment, accrued expenses and other liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities, respectively, on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term. The corresponding lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. The Company does not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for leases with a term of 12 months or less for any asset classes.
Lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement, net of any future tenant incentives. The Company has lease agreements which contain both lease and non-lease components, which it has elected to combine for all asset classes. As such, minimum lease payments include fixed payments for non-lease components within a lease agreement, but exclude variable lease payments not dependent on an index or rate, such as common area maintenance, operating expenses, utilities, or other costs that are subject to fluctuation from period to period. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease. Periods beyond the noncancellable term of the lease are included in the measurement of the lease liability when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the associated extension option or waive the termination option. The Company reassesses the lease term if and when a significant event or change in circumstances occurs within the control of the Company. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the net present value of future minimum lease payments is determined using the Company’s incremental
borrowing rate. The Company's incremental borrowing rate is an estimate of the interest rate the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis with similar terms and payments, in the economic environment where the leased asset is located.
The lease ROU asset is recognized based on the lease liability, adjusted for any rent payments or initial direct costs incurred or tenant incentives received prior to commencement.
Lease expenses for minimum lease payments for operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Amortization expense of finance lease ROU assets is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, and interest expense for finance lease liabilities is recognized based on the incremental borrowing rate. Expense for variable lease payments are recognized as incurred.
On the lease commencement date, the Company also establishes assets and liabilities for the present value of estimated future costs to retire long-lived assets at the termination or expiration of a lease. Such assets are included in property and equipment and are amortized over the lease term to operating expense.
The Company has entered into subleases or has made decisions and taken actions to exit and sublease certain unoccupied leased office space. Similar to other long-lived assets discussed below, management tests ROU assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. For leased assets, such circumstances would include the decision to leave a leased facility prior to the end of the minimum lease term or subleases for which estimated cash flow do not fully cover the costs of the associated lease.
Intangible Assets Acquired through Business Combinations
Intangible Assets Acquired through Business Combinations
Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Each period, the Company evaluates the estimated remaining useful life of its intangible assets and whether events or changes in circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. Management tests for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that could impact the recoverability of these assets.
Impairment Assessment
Impairment Assessment
The Company evaluates intangible assets and long-lived assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. This includes but is not limited to significant adverse changes in business climate, market conditions or other events that indicate an asset's carrying amount may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of each asset to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. If the undiscounted cash flows used in the test for recoverability are less than the carrying amount of these assets, the carrying amount of such assets is reduced to fair value.
The Company evaluates and tests the recoverability of its goodwill for impairment at least annually during its fourth quarter of each fiscal year or more often if and when circumstances indicate that goodwill may not be recoverable.
Business Combinations
Business Combinations
The Company uses its best estimates and assumptions to assign fair value to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. The Company’s estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the fair value of these tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. In addition, uncertain tax positions, tax-related valuation allowances and pre-acquisition contingencies are initially recorded in connection with a business combination as of the acquisition date. The Company continues to collect information and reevaluates these estimates and assumptions quarterly and records any adjustments to the Company’s preliminary estimates to goodwill provided that the Company is within the measurement period. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the fair value of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.
In the event the Company acquires an entity with which the Company has a preexisting relationship, the Company will generally recognize a gain or loss to settle that relationship as of the acquisition date within operating income on the consolidated statements of operations. In the event that the Company acquires an entity in which the Company previously held a strategic investment, the difference between the fair value of the shares as of the date of the acquisition and the carrying value of the strategic investment is recorded as a gain or loss and recorded within net gains (or losses) on strategic investments in the consolidated statement of operations.
Stock-Based Expense
Stock-Based Expense
Stock-based expenses are measured based on grant date at fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model for stock options and the grant date closing stock price for restricted stock awards. The Company recognizes stock-based expenses related to stock options and restricted stock awards on a straight-line basis, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting term of four years.
Stock-based expenses related to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP” or “2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan”) are measured based on grant date at fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company recognizes stock-based expenses related to shares issued pursuant to the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan on a straight-line basis over the offering period, which is 12 months. The ESPP allows employees to purchase shares of the Company's common stock at a 15 percent discount from the lower of the Company’s stock price on (i) the first day of the offering period or on (ii) the last day of the purchase period and also allows employees to reduce their percentage election once during a six-month purchase period (December 15 and June 15 of each fiscal year), but not increase that election until the next one-year offering period. The ESPP also includes a reset provision for the purchase price if the stock price on the purchase date is less than the stock price on the offering date.
Stock-based expenses related to performance share grants, which are awarded to executive officers and other members of senior management and vest, if at all, based on the Company’s performance over a three-year period relative to the Nasdaq 100. Performance share grants are measured based on grant date at fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation model and expensed on a straight-line basis, net of estimated forfeitures, over the service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting term of three years.
The Company, at times, grants unvested restricted shares to employee stockholders of certain acquired companies in lieu of cash consideration. These awards are generally subject to continued post-acquisition employment. Therefore, the Company accounts for them as post-acquisition stock-based expense. The Company recognizes stock-based expense equal to the grant date fair value of the restricted stock awards, based on the closing stock price on grant date, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally four years.
Advertising Expenses Advertising ExpensesAdvertising is expensed as incurred.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax laws is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company’s tax positions are subject to income tax audits by multiple tax jurisdictions throughout the world. The Company recognizes the tax benefit of an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the position is sustainable upon examination by the taxing authority, solely based on its technical merits. The tax benefit recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit which is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon settlement with the taxing authority. The Company recognizes interest accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the income tax provision.
Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts that are more likely than not expected to be realized based on the weighting of positive and negative evidence. Future realization of deferred tax assets ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character (for example, ordinary income or capital gain) within the carryback or carryforward periods available under the applicable tax law. The Company regularly reviews the deferred tax assets for recoverability based on historical taxable income, projected future taxable income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences and tax planning strategies. The Company’s judgments regarding future profitability may change due to many factors, including future market conditions and the ability to successfully execute its business plans. Should there be a change in the ability to recover deferred tax assets, the tax provision would increase or decrease in the period in which the assessment is changed.
Foreign Currency Translation
Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency of the Company’s major foreign subsidiaries is generally the local currency. All assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate during the period. Equity transactions are translated using historical exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from translating foreign functional currency financial statements into U.S.
dollars are recorded as a separate component on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in other income in the consolidated statement of operations for the period.
Warranties and Indemnification
Warranties and Indemnification
The Company’s enterprise cloud computing services are typically warranted to perform in a manner consistent with general industry standards that are reasonably applicable and materially in accordance with the Company’s online help documentation under normal use and circumstances.
The Company’s arrangements generally include certain provisions for indemnifying customers against liabilities if its products or services infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights. To date, the Company has not incurred any material costs as a result of such obligations and has not accrued any material liabilities related to such obligations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
The Company has also agreed to indemnify its directors and executive officers for costs associated with any fees, expenses, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of these persons in any action or proceeding to which any of those persons is, or is threatened to be, made a party by reason of the person’s service as a director or officer, including any action by the Company, arising out of that person’s services as the Company’s director or officer or that person’s services provided to any other company or enterprise at the Company’s request. The Company maintains director and officer insurance coverage that would generally enable the Company to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. The Company may also be subject to indemnification obligations by law with respect to the actions of its employees under certain circumstances and in certain jurisdictions.
New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted and Pending Adoption
New Accounting Pronouncement Adopted in Fiscal 2021
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments," which requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost, and includes the Company's accounts receivable, certain financial instruments and contract assets. ASU 2016-13 results in more timely recognition of credit losses. Effective on February 1, 2020, the Company adopted the provisions and expanded disclosure requirements described in ASU 2016-13. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 was not material to the consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Pronouncement Pending Adoption
In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which modifies and eliminates certain exceptions to the general principles of ASC 740, Income taxes. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020. ASU 2019-12 will be effective for fiscal 2022, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2019-12 to be material.
Reclassifications
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications to fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 balances were made to conform to the current period presentation in the consolidated statements of cash flows. These reclassifications did not impact the Company's Operating Cash Flows.
v3.20.4
Summary of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Schedule of Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of those assets as follows:
Computers, equipment and software
3 to 9 years
Furniture and fixtures5 years
Leasehold improvements
Shorter of the estimated lease term or 10 years
Buildings and building improvements
10 to 40 years
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in millions):
 As of January 31,
 20212020
Land $293 $184 
Buildings and building improvements 485 777 
Computers, equipment and software1,901 1,608 
Furniture and fixtures228 226 
Leasehold improvements1,507 1,381 
Property and equipment, gross4,414 4,176 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization(1,955)(1,801)
Property and equipment, net$2,459 $2,375 
v3.20.4
Revenues (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
Disaggregation of Revenue
Subscription and support revenues consisted of the following (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Sales $5,191 $4,598 $4,040 
Service 5,377 4,466 3,621 
Platform and Other6,275 4,473 2,854 
Marketing and Commerce3,133 2,506 1,898 
$19,976 $16,043 $12,413 
Total Revenue by Geographic Locations
Revenues by geographical region consisted of the following (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Americas$14,736 $12,051 $9,445 
Europe4,501 3,430 2,553 
Asia Pacific2,015 1,617 1,284 
$21,252 $17,098 $13,282 
Unearned Revenue
The change in unearned revenue was as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
20212020
Unearned revenue, beginning of period$10,662 $8,564 
Billings and other (1)23,096 18,662 
Contribution from contract asset28 101 
Revenue recognized ratably over time(19,188)(15,586)
Revenue recognized over time as delivered(767)(716)
Revenue recognized at a point in time(1,297)(796)
Unearned revenue from business combinations73 433 
Unearned revenue, end of period$12,607 $10,662 
(1) Other includes, for example, the impact of foreign currency translation.
Remaining Performance Obligation
Remaining performance obligation consisted of the following (in billions):
 CurrentNoncurrentTotal
As of January 31, 2021$18.0 $18.1 $36.1 
As of January 31, 2020$15.0 $15.8 $30.8 
v3.20.4
Investments (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Schedule of Marketable Securities
At January 31, 2021, marketable securities consisted of the following (in millions):
Investments Classified as Marketable SecuritiesAmortized
Cost		Unrealized
Gains		Unrealized
Losses		Fair Value
Corporate notes and obligations$3,321 $20 $0 $3,341 
U.S. treasury securities205 1 0 206 
Mortgage-backed obligations382 5 0 387 
Asset-backed securities1,096 6 (1)1,101 
Municipal securities242 2 0 244 
Covered bonds328 0 0 328 
Other164 0 0 164 
Total marketable securities$5,738 $34 $(1)$5,771 
At January 31, 2020, marketable securities consisted of the following (in millions):
Investments Classified as Marketable SecuritiesAmortized
Cost		Unrealized
Gains		Unrealized
Losses		Fair Value
Corporate notes and obligations$2,199 $9 $(1)$2,207 
U.S. treasury securities182 1 0 183 
Mortgage-backed obligations225 1 0 226 
Asset-backed securities779 2 0 781 
Municipal securities157 1 0 158 
Covered bonds165 0 0 165 
Other82 0 0 82 
Total marketable securities$3,789 $14 $(1)$3,802 
Schedule of Short-Term and Long-Term Marketable Securities
The contractual maturities of the investments classified as marketable securities are as follows (in millions):
 As of January 31,
 20212020
Due within 1 year$2,525 $1,332 
Due in 1 year through 5 years3,236 2,466 
Due in 5 years through 10 years10 4 
$5,771 $3,802 
Schedules of Strategic Investments
Strategic investments by form and measurement category as of January 31, 2021 were as follows (in millions):
 Measurement Category
 Fair ValueMeasurement AlternativeOtherTotal
Equity securities$2,068 $1,670 $120 $3,858 
Debt securities0 0 51 51 
Total strategic investments$2,068 $1,670 $171 $3,909 
Strategic investments by form and measurement category as of January 31, 2020 were as follows (in millions):
 Measurement Category
 Fair ValueMeasurement AlternativeOtherTotal
Equity securities$370 $1,502 $40 $1,912 
Debt securities0 0 51 51 
Total strategic investments $370 $1,502 $91 $1,963 
Measurement Alternative Adjustments
The components of privately held equity securities accounted for under the measurement alternative included in the table above are presented below (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
20212020
Carrying amount, beginning of period$1,502 $785 
Adjustments related to privately held equity securities:
Net additions (1)96 507 
Upward adjustments169 280 
Impairments and downward adjustments(97)(70)
Carrying amount, end of period$1,670 $1,502 
(1) Net additions include additions from purchases and reductions due to exits of securities and reclassifications due to changes to capital structure.
The components of gains and losses on strategic investments are presented below (in millions):
4Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
202120202019
Unrealized gains recognized on publicly traded equity securities, net$1,743 $138 $345 
Unrealized gains recognized on privately held equity securities, net77 208 133 
Realized gains on sales of equity securities, net367 95 74 
Losses on debt securities, net(17)(14)(10)
Gains on strategic investments, net$2,170 $427 $542 
v3.20.4
Fair Value Measurement (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value as of January 31, 2021 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation (in millions):
DescriptionQuoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1)		Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)		Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)		Balance as of
January 31, 2021
Cash equivalents (1):
Time deposits$0 $1,143 $0 $1,143 
Money market mutual funds377 0 0 377 
Cash equivalent securities 0 1,910 0 1,910 
Marketable securities:
Corporate notes and obligations0 3,341 0 3,341 
U.S. treasury securities0 206 0 206 
Mortgage-backed obligations0 387 0 387 
Asset-backed securities0 1,101 0 1,101 
Municipal securities0 244 0 244 
Covered bonds0 328 0 328 
Other0 164 0 164 
Strategic investments:
Publicly held equity securities2,068 0 0 2,068 
Total assets$2,445 $8,824 $0 $11,269 
(1) Included in “cash and cash equivalents” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet in addition to $2.8 billion of cash, as of January 31, 2021.
The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value as of January 31, 2020 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation (in millions):
DescriptionQuoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1)		Significant Other
Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)		Balance as of January 31, 2020
Cash equivalents (1):
Time deposits$0 $746 $0 $746 
Money market mutual funds1,293 0 0 1,293 
Marketable securities:
Corporate notes and obligations0 2,207 0 2,207 
U.S. treasury securities0 183 0 183 
Mortgage-backed obligations0 226 0 226 
Asset-backed securities0 781 0 781 
Municipal securities0 158 0 158 
Covered bonds0 165 0 165 
Other0 82 0 82 
Strategic investments:
Publicly held equity securities370 0 0 370 
Total assets$1,663 $4,548 $0 $6,211 
(1) Included in “cash and cash equivalents” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet in addition to $2.1 billion of cash, as of January 31, 2020.
v3.20.4
Property and Equipment and Other Balance Sheet Accounts (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]  
Schedule of Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of those assets as follows:
Computers, equipment and software
3 to 9 years
Furniture and fixtures5 years
Leasehold improvements
Shorter of the estimated lease term or 10 years
Buildings and building improvements
10 to 40 years
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in millions):
 As of January 31,
 20212020
Land $293 $184 
Buildings and building improvements 485 777 
Computers, equipment and software1,901 1,608 
Furniture and fixtures228 226 
Leasehold improvements1,507 1,381 
Property and equipment, gross4,414 4,176 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization(1,955)(1,801)
Property and equipment, net$2,459 $2,375 
v3.20.4
Leases and Other Commitments (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Components of Lease Expense and Supplemental Cash Flow Information
The components of lease expense were as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
20212020
Operating lease cost$1,208 $913 
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use assets $73 $65 
Interest on lease liabilities 15 20 
Total finance lease cost$88 $85 
Prior to the adoption of Topic 842 on February 1, 2019, the Company recognized operating lease costs on a straight-line basis once control of the space was achieved. Rent expense was $365 million for fiscal 2019.
Supplemental cash flow information related to operating and finance leases was as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
20212020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash outflows for operating leases$905 $827 
Operating cash outflows for finance leases 14 15
Financing cash outflows for finance leases48 164
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases979 509
Balance Sheet and Other Information Related to Leases
Supplemental balance sheet information related to operating and finance leases was as follows (in millions):
As of January 31,
20212020
Operating leases:
Operating lease right-of-use assets$3,204 $3,040 
Operating lease liabilities, current$766 $750 
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities2,842 2,445 
Total operating lease liabilities$3,608 $3,195 
Finance leases:
Buildings and building improvements (1)$0 $325 
Computers, equipment and software604 468 
Accumulated depreciation(410)(404)
Property and equipment, net$194 $389 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (1)$35 $53 
Other noncurrent liabilities (1)93 332 
Total finance lease liabilities$128 $385 
(1) As a result of the reassessment of the lease term of 350 Mission, the ROU asset and corresponding lease liability were remeasured to exclude the estimated lease payments for the renewal option periods and reclassified as operating leases, resulting in the derecognition of $262 million in buildings and building improvements. After remeasurement and reclassification, the lease represented $148 million in operating lease ROU assets. The $225 million in remeasured lease liabilities were also reclassified to operating lease liabilities during the period.
Other information related to leases was as follows:
As of January 31,
20212020
Weighted average remaining lease term
Operating leases7 years7 years
Finance leases4 years18 years
Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases2.2 %2.7 %
Finance leases1.9 %4.5 %
Maturities of Lease Liabilities
As of January 31, 2021, the maturities of lease liabilities under noncancellable operating and finance leases were as follows (in millions):
Operating Leases Finance Leases
Fiscal Period:
Fiscal 2022$822 $37 
Fiscal 2023680 35 
Fiscal 2024508 35 
Fiscal 2025399 26 
Fiscal 2026336 0 
Thereafter1,161 0 
Total minimum lease payments3,906 133 
Less: Imputed interest(298)(5)
Total$3,608 $128 
Maturities of Lease Liabilities
As of January 31, 2021, the maturities of lease liabilities under noncancellable operating and finance leases were as follows (in millions):
Operating Leases Finance Leases
Fiscal Period:
Fiscal 2022$822 $37 
Fiscal 2023680 35 
Fiscal 2024508 35 
Fiscal 2025399 26 
Fiscal 2026336 0 
Thereafter1,161 0 
Total minimum lease payments3,906 133 
Less: Imputed interest(298)(5)
Total$3,608 $128 
v3.20.4
Business Combinations (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Vlocity  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]  
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred for Vlocity was approximately $1.4 billion, which consisted of the following (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash$1,166 
Fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed6 
Fair value of pre-existing relationship208 
Total$1,380 
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed
The following table summarizes the preliminary fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents$12 
Accounts receivable22 
Goodwill1,024 
Intangible assets473 
Other assets15 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, current and noncurrent(35)
Unearned revenue(64)
Deferred tax liability(67)
Net assets acquired$1,380 
Schedule of Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class
The following table sets forth the components of identifiable intangible assets acquired and their estimated useful lives as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair ValueUseful Life
Developed technology$174 4 years
Customer relationships299 8 years
Total intangible assets subject to amortization$473 
Tableau  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]  
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred for Tableau was approximately $14.8 billion, which consisted of the following (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash$1 
Common stock issued14,552 
Fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed292 
Total$14,845 
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed
The following table summarizes the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents $644 
Marketable securities 456 
Accounts receivable174 
Contract asset131 
Operating lease right-of-use assets361 
Other assets116 
Acquired customer contract asset56 
Goodwill10,806 
Intangible assets3,252 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities(257)
Unearned revenue(242)
Operating lease liabilities(332)
Deferred tax liability and income tax payable(320)
Net assets acquired$14,845 
Schedule of Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class The following table sets forth the components of identifiable intangible assets acquired and their estimated useful lives as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair Value Useful Life
Developed technology$2,000 5 years
Customer relationships1,231 8 years
Other purchased intangible assets 21 1 year
Total intangible assets subject to amortization$3,252 
ClickSoftware  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]  
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred for ClickSoftware was approximately $1.4 billion, which consisted of the following (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash$587 
Common stock issued663 
Fair value of stock options assumed81 
Fair value of pre-existing relationship55 
Total$1,386 
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed
The following table summarizes the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents$38 
Accounts receivable28 
Goodwill1,132 
Intangible assets276 
Other assets33 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, current and noncurrent(55)
Unearned revenue(40)
Deferred tax liability(26)
Net assets acquired$1,386 
Schedule of Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class
The following table sets forth the components of identifiable intangible assets acquired and their estimated useful lives as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair ValueUseful Life
Developed technology$215 4 years
Customer relationships61 8 years
Total intangible assets subject to amortization$276 
Salesforce.org  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]  
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition
The following table summarizes the business combination (in millions):
Cash$300 
Loss on settlement of Salesforce.org reseller agreement(166)
Total$134 
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed
The following table summarizes the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition (in millions):
Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents$54 
Deferred tax asset59 
Other current and noncurrent assets46 
Goodwill164 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, current and noncurrent(39)
Unearned revenue(138)
Deferred income taxes and income taxes payable(12)
Net assets acquired$134 
v3.20.4
Intangible Assets Acquired Through Business Combinations and Goodwill (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Intangible Assets Acquired From Business Combinations
Intangible assets acquired through business combinations are as follows (in millions):
Intangible Assets, GrossAccumulated AmortizationIntangible Assets, NetWeighted
Average
Remaining Useful Life (Years)
January 31, 2020Additions and retirements, net (1)January 31, 2021January 31, 2020Expense and retirements, net (1)January 31, 2021January 31, 2020January 31, 2021January 31, 2021
Acquired developed technology$3,598 $(293)$3,305 $(1,249)$(178)$(1,427)$2,349 $1,878 3.2
Customer relationships3,252 258 3,510 (888)(391)(1,279)2,364 2,231 6.8
Other (2)72 (27)45 (61)21 (40)11 5 3.3
Total$6,922 $(62)$6,860 $(2,198)$(548)$(2,746)$4,724 $4,114 5.1
(1) The Company retired $576 million of fully depreciated intangible assets during fiscal 2021, of which $485 million were included in acquired developed technology, $57 million in customer relationships and $34 million in other.
(2) Included in other are in-place leases, trade names, trademarks and territory rights.
Expected Future Amortization Expense for Purchased Intangible Assets
The expected future amortization expense for intangible assets as of January 31, 2021 is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Period:
Fiscal 2022$1,078 
Fiscal 2023923 
Fiscal 2024835 
Fiscal 2025568 
Fiscal 2026342 
Thereafter368 
Total amortization expense$4,114 
Schedule of Goodwill
The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill, which is generally not deductible for tax purposes, were as follows (in millions):
Balance at January 31, 2019$12,851 
Tableau10,806 
ClickSoftware1,132 
Salesforce.org164 
MapAnything152 
Other acquisitions and adjustments (1)29 
Balance as of January 31, 202025,134 
Evergage74 
Vlocity1,024 
Other acquisitions and adjustments (1)86 
Balance as of January 31, 2021$26,318 
(1) Adjustments include measurement period adjustments for business combinations from the prior year and the effect of foreign currency translation.
v3.20.4
Debt (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Long-term Debt
The carrying values of the Company's borrowings were as follows (in millions):
InstrumentDate of issuanceMaturity dateEffective Interest Rate for Fiscal 2021January 31, 2021January 31, 2020
2023 Senior NotesApril 2018April 20233.26%996 995 
2028 Senior NotesApril 2018April 20283.70%1,491 1,489 
Loan assumed on 50 FremontFebruary 2015June 20233.75%190 193 
Total carrying value of debt2,677 2,677 
Less current portion of debt(4)(4)
Total noncurrent debt$2,673 $2,673 
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt
The expected future principal payments for all borrowings as of January 31, 2021 is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal period:
Fiscal 2022$4 
Fiscal 20234 
Fiscal 20241,182 
Thereafter1,500 
Total principal outstanding$2,690 
Schedule of Interest Expense
The following table sets forth total interest expense recognized related to debt (in millions), which is included within other expense in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations:
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Contractual interest expense$96 $106 $106 
Amortization of debt issuance costs14 4 16 
Amortization of debt discount0 0 4 
$110 $110 $126 
v3.20.4
Stockholders' Equity (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions
The fair value of each stock option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions and fair value per share:
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
Stock Options202120202019
Volatility
28 - 37
%
27 - 30
%
27 - 28
%
Estimated life3.5 years3.5 years3.5 years
Risk-free interest rate
0.2 - 1.4
%
1.6 - 2.5
%
2.5 - 3.0
%
Weighted-average fair value per share of grants$41.24 $39.59 $28.89 
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Valuation Assumptions
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
ESPP202120202019
Volatility
42 - 48
%
28 - 33
%
23 - 26
%
Estimated life0.75 years0.75 years0.75 years
Risk-free interest rate
0.1 - 0.2
%
1.6 - 2.1
%
2.0 - 2.6
%
Weighted-average fair value per share of grants$64.14 $41.43 $32.90 
Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity
Stock option activity, excluding the ESPP for fiscal 2021 is as follows:
  Options Outstanding
 Shares
Available for
Grant
(in millions)		Outstanding
Stock
Options
(in millions)		Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price		Aggregate
Intrinsic Value (in millions)
Balance as of January 31, 202077 27 $98.56 
Increase in shares authorized:
2013 Equity Incentive Plan31 
Assumed equity plans1 
Options granted under all plans(8)8 147.80 
Restricted stock activity(19)
Performance-based restricted stock units(2)
Exercised(10)79.12 
Plan shares expired or canceled2 (2)136.34 
Balance as of January 31, 202182 23 $120.61 $2,455 
Vested or expected to vest22 $118.53 $2,341 
Exercisable as of January 31, 202110 $87.40 $1,440 
Schedule of Stock Options Outstanding
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding as of January 31, 2021:
 Options OutstandingOptions Exercisable
Range of Exercise
Prices		Number
Outstanding
(in millions)		Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
(Years)		Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price		Number of
Shares
(in millions)		Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
$0.36 to $59.34
4 3.0$41.41 4 $42.90 
$59.64 to $118.04
6 3.497.24 4 92.64 
$122.03 to $148.95
2 5.3142.49 1 137.73 
$154.14
6 6.2154.14 0 0.00 
$155.20 to $161.50
4 5.0161.50 1 161.50 
$162.81 to $258.04
1 6.1202.46 0 0.00 
23 4.6$120.61 10 $87.40 
Schedule of Restricted Stock Activity
Restricted stock activity for fiscal 2021 is as follows:
 Restricted Stock Outstanding
 Outstanding
(in millions)		Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair ValueAggregate
Intrinsic
Value (in millions)
Balance as of January 31, 202028 $140.14 
Granted - restricted stock units and awards11 165.52 
Granted - performance-based stock units1 154.14 
Canceled(2)144.54 
Vested and converted to shares(13)132.43 
Balance as of January 31, 202125 $155.50 $5,727 
Expected to vest22 $5,058 
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expensed and Capitalized, Amount
The aggregate expected stock compensation remaining to be recognized as of January 31, 2021 is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Period:
Fiscal 2022$1,923 
Fiscal 20231,273 
Fiscal 2024725 
Fiscal 2025157 
Total stock compensation$4,078 
Schedule of Shares Of Common Stock Available For Future Issuance Under Stock Option Plans
The following number of shares of common stock were reserved and available for future issuance at January 31, 2021 (in millions):
Options outstanding23 
Restricted stock awards and units and performance-based stock units outstanding25 
Stock available for future grant or issuance:
2013 Equity Incentive Plan80 
2014 Inducement Plan2 
Amended and Restated 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan7 
137 
v3.20.4
Income Taxes (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Domestic and Foreign Components of Income Before Provision For (Benefit From) Income Taxes
The domestic and foreign components of income before provision for (benefit from) income taxes consisted of the following (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Domestic$2,683 $686 $839 
Foreign(122)20 144 
$2,561 $706 $983 
Schedule of Income Taxes Provision (Benefit)
The provision for (benefit from) income taxes consisted of the following (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Current:
Federal$(12)$8 $0 
State53 33 39 
Foreign238 512 117 
Total279 553 156 
Deferred:
Federal228 (41)(248)
State66 8 (37)
Foreign(2,084)60 2 
Total(1,790)27 (283)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes$(1,511)$580 $(127)
Reconciliation of Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate
A reconciliation of income taxes at the statutory federal income tax rate to the provision for (benefit from) income taxes included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations is as follows (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
U.S. federal taxes at statutory rate$538 $148 $206 
State, net of the federal benefit90 40 79 
Effects of non-U.S. operations (1)(1,817)540 379 
Tax credits(125)(195)(132)
Non-deductible expenses45 119 63 
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation(289)(166)(137)
Effect of U.S. tax law change23 6 43 
Change in valuation allowance 15 85 (612)
Other, net9 3 (16)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes$(1,511)$580 $(127)
(1) Fiscal 2021 effects of non-U.S. operations included tax benefit from the transfer of certain intangible property in Ireland. Fiscal 2020 included incremental tax costs associated with the integration of acquired operations and assets.
Significant Components of Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in millions):
 As of January 31,
 20212020
Deferred tax assets:
Losses and deductions carryforward$202 $218 
Deferred stock-based expense179 193 
Tax credits990 913 
Accrued liabilities269 214 
Intangible assets2,011 0 
Lease liabilities948 769 
Unearned revenue71 4 
Other17 31 
Total deferred tax assets4,687 2,342 
Less valuation allowance(305)(290)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance4,382 2,052 
Deferred tax liabilities:
Capitalized costs to obtain revenue contracts(581)(449)
Purchased intangible assets(833)(915)
Depreciation and amortization(121)(76)
Basis difference on strategic and other investments(400)(69)
Lease right-of-use assets(863)(695)
Total deferred tax liabilities(2,798)(2,204)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)$1,584 $(152)
Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of total unrecognized tax benefits for fiscal years 2021, 2020 and 2019 is as follows (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Beginning of period$1,433 $852 $304 
Tax positions taken in prior period:
Gross increases77 12 474 
Gross decreases(40)(37)(2)
Tax positions taken in current period:
Gross increases107 640 107 
Settlements(87)(27)(15)
Lapse of statute of limitations(19)(4)(10)
Currency translation effect8 (3)(6)
End of period$1,479 $1,433 $852 
v3.20.4
Net Income Per Share (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]  
Reconciliation of Denominator Used in Calculation of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share
A reconciliation of the denominator used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share is as follows (in millions):
4Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Numerator:
Net income$4,072 $126 $1,110 
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share908 829 751 
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee stock awards22 21 21 
Convertible senior notes which matured in April 20180 0 1 
Warrants which settled in June and July 20180 0 2 
Adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding and assumed conversions for diluted earnings per share930 850 775 
Shares Excluded From Diluted Earnings Per Share The effects of these potentially outstanding shares were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive (in millions):
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Employee stock awards6 7 4 
v3.20.4
Summary of Business and Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2021
USD ($)
segment
Jan. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Concentration Risk [Line Items]          
Number of operating segments | segment     1    
Capitalized contract cost, amortization term (in years) 4 years   4 years    
Capitalized contract cost, renewals and success fees, amortization term (in years)     2 years    
Costs capitalized to obtain revenue contracts, net     $ 1,645,000,000 $ 1,130,000,000 $ 981,000,000
Amortization of costs capitalized to obtain revenue contracts, net     1,058,000,000 876,000,000 737,000,000
Costs capitalized to obtain revenue contracts, net $ 2,900,000,000 $ 2,300,000,000 2,900,000,000 2,300,000,000  
Impairments of costs to obtain revenue contracts     0 0  
Impairment of real estate leases     216,000,000    
Impairment of intangible assets     0 0 0
Impairment of goodwill     0 0 0
Impairments of capitalized software and long-lived assets     $ 0 0 0
Offering period     12 months    
Discount for ESPP     15.00%    
Purchase period     6 months    
Advertising expense     $ 787,000,000 660,000,000 $ 482,000,000
Foreign currency derivative contracts | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments          
Concentration Risk [Line Items]          
Notional amount of foreign currency derivative contracts $ 5,300,000,000 $ 5,500,000,000 $ 5,300,000,000 $ 5,500,000,000  
Stock options and restricted stock          
Concentration Risk [Line Items]          
Vesting period (in years)     4 years    
Performance shares          
Concentration Risk [Line Items]          
Vesting period (in years)     3 years    
Performance period     3 years    
Restricted Stock          
Concentration Risk [Line Items]          
Award requisite service period     4 years    
Assets | Geographic concentration risk | Non-US          
Concentration Risk [Line Items]          
Concentration risk percentage 15.00% 12.00%      
Assets | Geographic concentration risk | Untied States          
Concentration Risk [Line Items]          
Concentration risk percentage 82.00% 87.00%      
Strategic investments | Investment concentration risk | One publicly traded investment A          
Concentration Risk [Line Items]          
Concentration risk percentage 35.00%        
Strategic investments | Investment concentration risk | One publicly traded investment B | Minimum          
Concentration Risk [Line Items]          
Concentration risk percentage 15.00%        
Strategic investments | Investment concentration risk | One privately held investment | Minimum          
Concentration Risk [Line Items]          
Concentration risk percentage     5.00%    
Strategic investments | Investment concentration risk | Two publicly held investments          
Concentration Risk [Line Items]          
Concentration risk percentage 53.00%        
Strategic investments | Investment concentration risk | Five investments | Minimum          
Concentration Risk [Line Items]          
Concentration risk percentage   5.00%      
v3.20.4
Summary of Business and Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Property and Equipment Estimated Useful Lives (Details)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Furniture and fixtures  
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]  
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives 5 years
Minimum | Computers, equipment and software  
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]  
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives 3 years
Minimum | Buildings and building improvements  
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]  
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives 10 years
Maximum | Computers, equipment and software  
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]  
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives 9 years
Maximum | Leasehold improvements  
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]  
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives 10 years
Maximum | Buildings and building improvements  
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]  
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives 40 years
v3.20.4
Revenues - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total revenues $ 21,252 $ 17,098 $ 13,282
Americas      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total revenues 14,736 12,051 9,445
Europe      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total revenues 4,501 3,430 2,553
Asia Pacific      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total revenues $ 2,015 $ 1,617 $ 1,284
Untied States | Geographic concentration risk | Revenue      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Concentration risk percentage 95.00% 96.00% 96.00%
Subscription and support      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total revenues $ 19,976 $ 16,043 $ 12,413
Sales      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total revenues 5,191 4,598 4,040
Service      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total revenues 5,377 4,466 3,621
Platform and Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total revenues 6,275 4,473 2,854
Marketing and Commerce      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total revenues $ 3,133 $ 2,506 $ 1,898
v3.20.4
Revenues - Contract Balances and Unearned Revenue (Details)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]    
Customer contract assets $ 477 $ 449
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]    
Unearned revenue, beginning of period 10,662 8,564
Billings and other 23,096 18,662
Contribution from contract asset 28 101
Unearned revenue from business combinations 73 433
Unearned revenue, end of period $ 12,607 10,662
Percent of revenue recognized 0.50  
Revenue recognized ratably over time    
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]    
Revenue recognized $ (19,188) (15,586)
Revenue recognized over time as delivered    
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]    
Revenue recognized (767) (716)
Revenue recognized at a point in time    
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]    
Revenue recognized $ (1,297) $ (796)
v3.20.4
Revenues - Remaining Performance Obligation (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Billions
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]    
Current $ 18.0 $ 15.0
Noncurrent 18.1 15.8
Total $ 36.1 $ 30.8
Minimum | Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2021-02-01    
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]    
Noncurrent remaining performance obligation, recognition period 13 months  
Maximum | Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2021-02-01    
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]    
Noncurrent remaining performance obligation, recognition period 36 months  
v3.20.4
Investments - Schedule of Marketable Securities (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost $ 5,738 $ 3,789
Unrealized Gains 34 14
Unrealized Losses (1) (1)
Fair Value 5,771 3,802
Corporate notes and obligations    
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 3,321 2,199
Unrealized Gains 20 9
Unrealized Losses 0 (1)
Fair Value 3,341 2,207
U.S. treasury securities    
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 205 182
Unrealized Gains 1 1
Unrealized Losses 0 0
Fair Value 206 183
Mortgage-backed obligations    
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 382 225
Unrealized Gains 5 1
Unrealized Losses 0 0
Fair Value 387 226
Asset-backed securities    
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 1,096 779
Unrealized Gains 6 2
Unrealized Losses (1) 0
Fair Value 1,101 781
Municipal securities    
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 242 157
Unrealized Gains 2 1
Unrealized Losses 0 0
Fair Value 244 158
Covered bonds    
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 328 165
Unrealized Gains 0 0
Unrealized Losses 0 0
Fair Value 328 165
Other    
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 164 82
Unrealized Gains 0 0
Unrealized Losses 0 0
Fair Value $ 164 $ 82
v3.20.4
Investments - Schedule of Short-Term and Long-Term Marketable Securities (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]    
Due within 1 year $ 2,525 $ 1,332
Due in 1 year through 5 years 3,236 2,466
Due in 5 years through 10 years 10 4
Fair value of marketable securities $ 5,771 $ 3,802
v3.20.4
Investments - Schedule of Strategic Investments (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Sep. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2020
Feb. 29, 2020
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments $ 3,909 $ 3,909 $ 1,963        
Strategic Investments [Roll Forward]              
Carrying amount, beginning of period   1,502 785        
Adjustments related to privately held equity securities:              
Net additions   96 507        
Upward adjustments   169 280        
Impairments and downward adjustments   (97) (70)        
Carrying amount, end of period 1,670 1,670 1,502 $ 785      
Net unrealized gains (loss) recognized   1,800 300        
Cumulative impairments and downward adjustments 238 238          
Cumulative upward adjustments 314 314          
Cumulative net gain on equity securities   900 400        
Impairments on privately held equity and debt securities   125 77        
Equity securities              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments 3,858 3,858 1,912        
Adjustments related to privately held equity securities:              
Net realized gains (losses) recognized   367 95 74      
Debt securities              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments 51 51 51        
Adjustments related to privately held equity securities:              
Net realized gains (losses) recognized   (17) (14) (10)      
Technology company in preferred stock financing              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments           $ 100 $ 150
Publicly traded securities              
Adjustments related to privately held equity securities:              
Net unrealized gains (loss) recognized   1,743 138 $ 345      
Publicly traded securities | July 2020 IPO investment              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments 700 700          
Adjustments related to privately held equity securities:              
Net unrealized gains (loss) recognized   537          
Publicly traded securities | September 2020 IPO investment              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments 1,400 1,400     $ 250    
Adjustments related to privately held equity securities:              
Net unrealized gains (loss) recognized 1,200            
Two publicly traded investments              
Adjustments related to privately held equity securities:              
Cumulative net gain on equity securities   600          
Net realized gains (losses) recognized   300          
Fair Value              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments 2,068 2,068 370        
Fair Value | Equity securities              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments 2,068 2,068 370        
Fair Value | Debt securities              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments 0 0 0        
Measurement Alternative              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments 1,670 1,670 1,502        
Measurement Alternative | Equity securities              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments 1,670 1,670 1,502        
Measurement Alternative | Debt securities              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments 0 0 0        
Other              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments 171 171 91        
Other | Equity securities              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments 120 120 40        
Other | Debt securities              
Investment Holdings [Line Items]              
Strategic investments $ 51 $ 51 $ 51        
v3.20.4
Investments - Gains (Losses) on Strategic Investments, Net (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Investment Holdings [Line Items]      
Net unrealized gains (loss) recognized $ 1,800 $ 300  
Gains on strategic investments, net [1] 2,170 427 $ 542
Publicly traded securities      
Investment Holdings [Line Items]      
Net unrealized gains (loss) recognized 1,743 138 345
Privately held securities      
Investment Holdings [Line Items]      
Net unrealized gains (loss) recognized 77 208 133
Equity securities      
Investment Holdings [Line Items]      
Net realized gains (losses) recognized 367 95 74
Debt securities      
Investment Holdings [Line Items]      
Net realized gains (losses) recognized $ (17) $ (14) $ (10)
[1] During fiscal 2021, two of the Company’s strategic investments completed their initial public offering, resulting in an unrealized gain of $1.7 billion as of January 31, 2021.
v3.20.4
Fair Value Measurement (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities $ 5,771 $ 3,802
Publicly held equity securities 2,068 370
Total assets 11,269 6,211
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Publicly held equity securities 2,068 370
Total assets 2,445 1,663
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Publicly held equity securities 0 0
Total assets 8,824 4,548
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Publicly held equity securities 0 0
Total assets 0 0
Corporate notes and obligations    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 3,341 2,207
Corporate notes and obligations | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
Corporate notes and obligations | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 3,341 2,207
Corporate notes and obligations | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
U.S. treasury securities    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 206 183
U.S. treasury securities | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
U.S. treasury securities | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 206 183
U.S. treasury securities | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
Mortgage-backed obligations    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 387 226
Mortgage-backed obligations | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
Mortgage-backed obligations | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 387 226
Mortgage-backed obligations | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
Asset-backed securities    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 1,101 781
Asset-backed securities | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
Asset-backed securities | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 1,101 781
Asset-backed securities | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
Municipal securities    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 244 158
Municipal securities | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
Municipal securities | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 244 158
Municipal securities | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
Covered bonds    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 328 165
Covered bonds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
Covered bonds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 328 165
Covered bonds | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
Other    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 164 82
Other | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
Other | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 164 82
Other | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Marketable securities 0 0
Privately held securities | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fair value, non-recurring    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Investments, fair value 1,800 1,600
Time deposits | Cash and cash equivalents    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents 1,143 746
Time deposits | Cash and cash equivalents | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents 0 0
Time deposits | Cash and cash equivalents | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents 1,143 746
Time deposits | Cash and cash equivalents | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents 0 0
Money market mutual funds | Cash and cash equivalents    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents 377 1,293
Money market mutual funds | Cash and cash equivalents | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents 377 1,293
Money market mutual funds | Cash and cash equivalents | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents 0 0
Money market mutual funds | Cash and cash equivalents | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents 0 0
Cash equivalent securities    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents 2,800 $ 2,100
Cash equivalent securities | Cash and cash equivalents    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents 1,910  
Cash equivalent securities | Cash and cash equivalents | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents 0  
Cash equivalent securities | Cash and cash equivalents | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents 1,910  
Cash equivalent securities | Cash and cash equivalents | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash equivalents $ 0  
v3.20.4
Property and Equipment and Other Balance Sheet Accounts (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property and equipment, gross $ 4,414 $ 4,176  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (1,955) (1,801)  
Property and equipment, net 2,459 2,375  
Depreciation amortization expense 579 455 $ 411
Derecognition of building and building improvements 262    
Operating lease right-of-use assets 3,204 3,040  
Operating lease liabilities 3,608 3,195  
Payment to acquire property 150    
Accrued compensation 1,700 1,500  
Acquired in-place leases      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired 6    
350 Mission St. Leased Property      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Operating lease right-of-use assets 148    
Operating lease liabilities 225    
Land      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property and equipment, gross 293 184  
Property, plant and equipment, additions 110    
Buildings and building improvements      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property and equipment, gross 485 777  
Computers, equipment and software      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property and equipment, gross 1,901 1,608  
Furniture and fixtures      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property and equipment, gross 228 226  
Leasehold improvements      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property and equipment, gross 1,507 $ 1,381  
Building      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, plant and equipment, additions $ 34    
v3.20.4
Leases and Other Commitments - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2019
Other Commitments [Line Items]    
Operating lease extension term (some leases) 5 years  
Operating lease termination option 1 year  
Operating lease expense   $ 365
Sublease income, next five years $ 166  
Sublease income, thereafter 34  
Operating leases, not yet commenced 1,500  
Operating lease commitment balance, including leases not yet commenced 5,400  
Letter of credit    
Other Commitments [Line Items]    
Value of outstanding letters of credit 100  
Facilities Space    
Other Commitments [Line Items]    
Operating lease commitment balance, including leases not yet commenced $ 4,900  
Minimum    
Other Commitments [Line Items]    
Operating lease term 1 year  
Operating lease term, not yet commenced 3 years  
Maximum    
Other Commitments [Line Items]    
Operating lease term 18 years  
Operating lease term, not yet commenced 18 years  
v3.20.4
Leases and Other Commitments - Components of Lease Expense and Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]    
Operating lease cost $ 1,208 $ 913
Finance lease cost:    
Amortization of right-of-use assets 73 65
Interest on lease liabilities 15 20
Total finance lease cost 88 85
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:    
Operating cash outflows for operating leases 905 827
Operating cash outflows for finance leases 14 15
Financing cash outflows for finance leases 48 164
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:    
Operating leases $ 979 $ 509
v3.20.4
Leases and Other Commitments - Balance Sheet and Other Information Related to Leases (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Operating leases:    
Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 3,204 $ 3,040
Operating lease liabilities, current 766 750
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 2,842 2,445
Total operating lease liabilities 3,608 3,195
Finance leases:    
Accumulated depreciation (410) (404)
Property and equipment, net 194 389
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 35 53
Other noncurrent liabilities 93 332
Total finance lease liabilities $ 128 $ 385
Weighted average remaining lease term    
Operating leases (in years) 7 years 7 years
Finance leases (in years) 4 years 18 years
Derecognition of building and building improvements $ 262  
Operating lease right-of-use assets 3,204 $ 3,040
Operating lease liabilities $ 3,608 $ 3,195
Weighted average discount rate    
Operating leases 2.20% 2.70%
Finance leases 1.90% 4.50%
350 Mission St. Leased Property    
Operating leases:    
Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 148  
Total operating lease liabilities 225  
Weighted average remaining lease term    
Operating lease right-of-use assets 148  
Operating lease liabilities 225  
Buildings and building improvements    
Finance leases:    
Finance leases, gross 0 $ 325
Computers, equipment and software    
Finance leases:    
Finance leases, gross $ 604 $ 468
v3.20.4
Leases and Other Commitments - Maturities of Lease Liabilities (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Operating Leases    
Fiscal 2022 $ 822  
Fiscal 2023 680  
Fiscal 2024 508  
Fiscal 2025 399  
Fiscal 2026 336  
Thereafter 1,161  
Total minimum lease payments 3,906  
Less: Imputed interest (298)  
Total 3,608 $ 3,195
Finance Leases    
Fiscal 2022 37  
Fiscal 2023 35  
Fiscal 2024 35  
Fiscal 2025 26  
Fiscal 2026 0  
Thereafter 0  
Total minimum lease payments 133  
Less: Imputed interest (5)  
Total $ 128 $ 385
v3.20.4
Business Combinations - Narrative (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Millions
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
May 31, 2020
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2020
USD ($)
Feb. 29, 2020
USD ($)
Oct. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2019
USD ($)
May 31, 2019
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2018
USD ($)
May 31, 2018
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Jul. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Jul. 31, 2021
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Jan. 31, 2021
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Fair value of equity awards assumed                           $ 6 $ 373 $ 480
Estimated useful lives (in years)                           5 years 1 month 6 days    
Goodwill                           $ 26,318 25,134 12,851
Loss on settlement of Salesforce.org reseller agreement             $ 166             $ 0 [1],[2] $ 166 [1],[2] $ 0 [1],[2]
Customer relationships                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Estimated useful lives (in years)                           6 years 9 months 18 days    
Acquired developed technology                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Estimated useful lives (in years)                           3 years 2 months 12 days    
Vlocity                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Fair value of consideration transferred     $ 1,380                          
Share conversion ratio     0.05817                          
Fair value of unvested options     $ 139                          
Fair value of equity awards assumed     6                          
Assumed unvested options, allocated to future services     133                          
Fair value of pre-existing relationship $ 167   208                          
Remeasurement gain     41                          
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired     473                          
Goodwill     1,024                          
Cash     1,166                          
Vlocity | Customer relationships                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired     $ 299                          
Estimated useful lives (in years)     8 years                          
Vlocity | Acquired developed technology                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired     $ 174                          
Estimated useful lives (in years)     4 years                          
Evergage                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Consideration transferred       $ 100                        
Goodwill       74                        
Evergage | Developed technology and customer relationships                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired       $ 25                        
Evergage | Developed technology and customer relationships | Minimum                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Estimated useful lives (in years)       3 years                        
Evergage | Developed technology and customer relationships | Maximum                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Estimated useful lives (in years)       5 years                        
Tableau                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Share conversion ratio           1.103                    
Fair value of unvested options           $ 1,500                    
Fair value of equity awards assumed           292                    
Assumed unvested options, allocated to future services           1,200                    
Consideration transferred           14,845                    
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired           3,252                    
Goodwill           10,806                    
Transaction costs           40                    
Cash           1                    
Common stock issued           14,552                    
Tableau | Customer relationships                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired           $ 1,231                    
Estimated useful lives (in years)           8 years                    
Tableau | Acquired developed technology                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired           $ 2,000                    
Estimated useful lives (in years)           5 years                    
ClickSoftware                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Fair value of consideration transferred         $ 1,386                      
Share conversion ratio         0.109592                      
Fair value of unvested options         $ 103                      
Fair value of equity awards assumed         81                      
Assumed unvested options, allocated to future services         22                      
Fair value of pre-existing relationship         55             $ 14        
Remeasurement gain         39                      
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired         276                      
Goodwill         1,132                      
Cash         587                      
Common stock issued         663                      
ClickSoftware | Customer relationships                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired         $ 61                      
Estimated useful lives (in years)         8 years                      
ClickSoftware | Acquired developed technology                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired         $ 215                      
Estimated useful lives (in years)         4 years                      
Salesforce.org                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Consideration transferred             134                  
Goodwill             164                  
Cash             300                  
Loss on settlement of Salesforce.org reseller agreement             $ 166                  
MapAnything                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Fair value of pre-existing relationship   $ 23                            
Remeasurement gain               $ 9                
Consideration transferred               213                
Goodwill               $ 152                
MapAnything | Minimum                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Estimated useful lives (in years)               4 years                
MapAnything | Maximum                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Estimated useful lives (in years)               5 years                
MapAnything | Developed technology and customer relationships                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired               $ 53                
Datorama                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Fair value of equity awards assumed                 $ 93              
Consideration transferred                 766              
Goodwill                 586              
Cash                 136              
Common stock issued                 $ 537              
Datorama | Minimum                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Estimated useful lives (in years)                 1 year              
Datorama | Maximum                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Estimated useful lives (in years)                 8 years              
Datorama | Developed technology and customer relationships                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired                 $ 202              
MuleSoft                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Fair value of unvested options                   $ 824            
Fair value of equity awards assumed                   387            
Assumed unvested options, allocated to future services                   437            
Consideration transferred                   6,400            
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired                   1,300            
Goodwill                   4,800            
Cash                   4,900            
Common stock issued                   $ 1,200            
MuleSoft | Minimum                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Estimated useful lives (in years)                   1 year            
MuleSoft | Maximum                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Estimated useful lives (in years)                   8 years            
MuleSoft | Customer relationships                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired                   $ 1,000            
MuleSoft | Acquired developed technology                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired                   $ 224            
CloudCraze                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Consideration transferred                     $ 190          
Goodwill                     $ 134          
CloudCraze | Minimum                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Estimated useful lives (in years)                     1 year          
CloudCraze | Maximum                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Estimated useful lives (in years)                     7 years          
CloudCraze | Developed technology and customer relationships                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired                     $ 58          
Slack | Expected                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Cash                         $ 15,600      
Cash paid per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares                         $ 26.79      
Entity shares (in shares) | shares                         0.0776      
Shares issued related to business combinations (in shares) | shares                         45,000,000      
[1] Amounts include amortization of intangible assets acquired through business combinations, as follows:
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Cost of revenues$662 $440 $215 
Marketing and sales459 352 232 
[2] Amounts include stock-based expense, as follows:
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Cost of revenues$241 $204 $161 
Research and development703 510 307 
Marketing and sales941 852 643 
General and administrative305 219 172 
v3.20.4
Business Combinations - Consideration Transferred (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
May 31, 2020
Jun. 30, 2020
Oct. 31, 2019
Aug. 31, 2019
Jun. 30, 2019
Jul. 31, 2015
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                  
Loss on settlement of Salesforce.org reseller agreement         $ (166)   $ 0 [1],[2] $ (166) [1],[2] $ 0 [1],[2]
Fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed             $ 6 $ 373 $ 480
Vlocity                  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                  
Cash   $ 1,166              
Fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed   6              
Fair value of pre-existing relationship $ 167 208              
Total   $ 1,380              
Tableau                  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                  
Cash       $ 1          
Common stock issued       14,552          
Fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed       292          
Total       $ 14,845          
ClickSoftware                  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                  
Cash     $ 587            
Common stock issued     663            
Fair value of stock options and restricted stock awards assumed     81            
Fair value of pre-existing relationship     55     $ 14      
Total     $ 1,386            
Salesforce.org                  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                  
Cash         300        
Loss on settlement of Salesforce.org reseller agreement         (166)        
Total         $ 134        
[1] Amounts include amortization of intangible assets acquired through business combinations, as follows:
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Cost of revenues$662 $440 $215 
Marketing and sales459 352 232 
[2] Amounts include stock-based expense, as follows:
 Fiscal Year Ended January 31,
 202120202019
Cost of revenues$241 $204 $161 
Research and development703 510 307 
Marketing and sales941 852 643 
General and administrative305 219 172 
v3.20.4
Business Combinations - Estimated Fair Values of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
Jun. 30, 2020
Jan. 31, 2020
Oct. 31, 2019
Aug. 31, 2019
Jun. 30, 2019
Jan. 31, 2019
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Contract asset $ 477   $ 449        
Goodwill $ 26,318   $ 25,134       $ 12,851
Vlocity              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 12          
Accounts receivable   22          
Goodwill   1,024          
Intangible assets   473          
Other assets   15          
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, current and noncurrent   (35)          
Unearned revenue   (64)          
Deferred tax liability   (67)          
Net assets acquired   $ 1,380          
Tableau              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Cash and cash equivalents         $ 644    
Marketable securities         456    
Accounts receivable         174    
Contract asset         131    
Operating lease right-of-use assets         361    
Acquired customer contract asset         56    
Goodwill         10,806    
Intangible assets         3,252    
Other assets         116    
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, current and noncurrent         (257)    
Unearned revenue         (242)    
Operating lease liabilities         (332)    
Deferred tax liability and income tax payable         (320)    
Net assets acquired         $ 14,845    
ClickSoftware              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Cash and cash equivalents       $ 38      
Accounts receivable       28      
Goodwill       1,132      
Intangible assets       276      
Other assets       33      
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, current and noncurrent       (55)      
Unearned revenue       (40)      
Deferred tax liability       (26)      
Net assets acquired       $ 1,386      
Salesforce.org              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Cash and cash equivalents           $ 54  
Deferred tax asset           59  
Goodwill           164  
Other assets           46  
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, current and noncurrent           (39)  
Unearned revenue           (138)  
Deferred tax liability and income tax payable           (12)  
Net assets acquired           $ 134  
v3.20.4
Business Combinations - Intangible Assets Acquired (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Oct. 31, 2019
Aug. 31, 2019
Jan. 31, 2021
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Estimated useful lives (in years)       5 years 1 month 6 days
Developed technology        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Estimated useful lives (in years)       3 years 2 months 12 days
Customer relationships        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Estimated useful lives (in years)       6 years 9 months 18 days
Other        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Estimated useful lives (in years)       3 years 3 months 18 days
Vlocity        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired $ 473      
Vlocity | Developed technology        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired $ 174      
Estimated useful lives (in years) 4 years      
Vlocity | Customer relationships        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired $ 299      
Estimated useful lives (in years) 8 years      
Tableau        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired     $ 3,252  
Tableau | Developed technology        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired     $ 2,000  
Estimated useful lives (in years)     5 years  
Tableau | Customer relationships        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired     $ 1,231  
Estimated useful lives (in years)     8 years  
Tableau | Other        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired     $ 21  
Estimated useful lives (in years)     1 year  
ClickSoftware        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired   $ 276    
ClickSoftware | Developed technology        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired   $ 215    
Estimated useful lives (in years)   4 years    
ClickSoftware | Customer relationships        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired   $ 61    
Estimated useful lives (in years)   8 years    
v3.20.4
Intangible Assets Acquired Through Business Combinations and Goodwill - Intangible Assets Acquired From Business Combinations (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]      
Intangible assets, gross, beginning balance $ 6,922    
Additions and retirements, net (62)    
Intangible assets, gross, ending balance 6,860 $ 6,922  
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance (2,198)    
Expense and retirements, net (548)    
Accumulated amortization, ending balance (2,746) (2,198)  
Intangible assets, net, beginning balance 4,724    
Intangible assets, net, ending balance $ 4,114 4,724  
Weighted Average Remaining Useful Life (Years) 5 years 1 month 6 days    
Finite-lived intangible assets, retirements $ 576    
Amortization of intangible assets 1,100 792 $ 447
Customer contract assets 477 449  
Other assets      
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]      
Customer contract assets 42 93  
Acquired developed technology      
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]      
Intangible assets, gross, beginning balance 3,598    
Additions and retirements, net (293)    
Intangible assets, gross, ending balance 3,305 3,598  
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance (1,249)    
Expense and retirements, net (178)    
Accumulated amortization, ending balance (1,427) (1,249)  
Intangible assets, net, beginning balance 2,349    
Intangible assets, net, ending balance $ 1,878 2,349  
Weighted Average Remaining Useful Life (Years) 3 years 2 months 12 days    
Finite-lived intangible assets, retirements $ 485    
Customer relationships      
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]      
Intangible assets, gross, beginning balance 3,252    
Additions and retirements, net 258    
Intangible assets, gross, ending balance 3,510 3,252  
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance (888)    
Expense and retirements, net (391)    
Accumulated amortization, ending balance (1,279) (888)  
Intangible assets, net, beginning balance 2,364    
Intangible assets, net, ending balance $ 2,231 2,364  
Weighted Average Remaining Useful Life (Years) 6 years 9 months 18 days    
Finite-lived intangible assets, retirements $ 57    
Other      
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]      
Intangible assets, gross, beginning balance 72    
Additions and retirements, net (27)    
Intangible assets, gross, ending balance 45 72  
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance (61)    
Expense and retirements, net 21    
Accumulated amortization, ending balance (40) (61)  
Intangible assets, net, beginning balance 11    
Intangible assets, net, ending balance $ 5 $ 11  
Weighted Average Remaining Useful Life (Years) 3 years 3 months 18 days    
Finite-lived intangible assets, retirements $ 34    
v3.20.4
Intangible Assets Acquired Through Business Combinations and Goodwill - Expected Future Amortization Expense for Purchased Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]    
Fiscal 2022 $ 1,078  
Fiscal 2023 923  
Fiscal 2024 835  
Fiscal 2025 568  
Fiscal 2026 342  
Thereafter 368  
Total amortization expense $ 4,114 $ 4,724
v3.20.4
Intangible Assets Acquired Through Business Combinations and Goodwill - Goodwill (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Goodwill [Roll Forward]    
Goodwill, beginning balance $ 25,134 $ 12,851
Other acquisitions and adjustments 86 29
Goodwill, ending balance 26,318 25,134
Tableau    
Goodwill [Roll Forward]    
Goodwill acquired   10,806
ClickSoftware    
Goodwill [Roll Forward]    
Goodwill acquired   1,132
Salesforce.org    
Goodwill [Roll Forward]    
Goodwill acquired   164
MapAnything    
Goodwill [Roll Forward]    
Goodwill acquired   $ 152
Evergage    
Goodwill [Roll Forward]    
Goodwill acquired 74  
Vlocity    
Goodwill [Roll Forward]    
Goodwill acquired $ 1,024  
v3.20.4
Debt - Carrying Value of Borrowings (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total carrying value of debt $ 2,677 $ 2,677
Less current portion of debt (4) (4)
Total noncurrent debt $ 2,673 2,673
Senior Notes | 2023 Senior Notes    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Effective Interest Rate for Fiscal 2021 3.26%  
Total carrying value of debt $ 996 995
Senior Notes | 2028 Senior Notes    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Effective Interest Rate for Fiscal 2021 3.70%  
Total carrying value of debt $ 1,491 1,489
Secured Debt | Loan assumed on 50 Fremont    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Effective Interest Rate for Fiscal 2021 3.75%  
Total carrying value of debt $ 190 $ 193
v3.20.4
Debt - Narrative (Details)
 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2021
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2021
USD ($)
Dec. 01, 2020
USD ($)
Nov. 30, 2020
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Slack | Bridge Facility | Bridge loan            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Unsecured bridge loan $ 7,000,000,000.0     $ 10,000,000,000.0    
Debt term 364 days          
Slack | Bridge Facility | Bridge loan | Subsequent Event            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Unsecured bridge loan   $ 4,000,000,000.0        
Revolving Credit Facility            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Maximum borrowing capacity $ 3,000,000,000.0       $ 1,000,000,000.0  
Outstanding borrowings     $ 0      
Closing trading price            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Long-term debt measurement input     100      
Senior Notes | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Senior Notes fair value     $ 2,800,000,000     $ 2,700,000,000
Senior Unsecured Term Loan | Slack | Acquisition Term Loan            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Unsecured bridge loan $ 3,000,000,000.0          
Debt term 3 years          
v3.20.4
Debt - Future Principal Payments (Details)
$ in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
USD ($)
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Fiscal 2022 $ 4
Fiscal 2023 4
Fiscal 2024 1,182
Thereafter 1,500
Total principal outstanding $ 2,690
v3.20.4
Debt - Schedule of Interest Expense (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]      
Contractual interest expense $ 96 $ 106 $ 106
Amortization of debt issuance costs 14 4 16
Amortization of debt discount 0 0 4
Debt interest expense $ 110 $ 110 $ 126
v3.20.4
Stockholders' Equity - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Shares purchased under the ESPP (in shares) 3,900,000 3,300,000 3,500,000
Total intrinsic value of the options exercised during the period $ 1,200 $ 799 $ 784
Weighted-average remaining contractual life of vested and expected to vest options (in years) 4 years 6 months    
Options vested (in shares) 10,000,000    
Weighted average exercise price vested (in dollars per share) $ 87.40    
Remaining contractual term (in years) 3 years    
Total intrinsic value of vested options $ 1,440    
Weighted-average fair value per share of grants (in dollars per share) $ 0.001    
Period for recognition (in years) 2 years    
Fair value of shares vested in period $ 2,500 $ 1,900  
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) 5,000,000 5,000,000  
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares) 0 0  
ESPP      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Share-based compensation expense $ 140 $ 107  
Weighted-average fair value per share of grants (in dollars per share) $ 64.14 $ 41.43 $ 32.90
Stock Options      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Term of stock options (in years) 7 years    
Weighted-average fair value per share of grants (in dollars per share) $ 41.24 $ 39.59 $ 28.89
Performance shares      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Vesting period (in years) 3 years    
Performance shares | Minimum      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Award vesting percentage 0.00%    
Performance shares | Maximum      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Award vesting percentage 200.00%    
Restricted Stock      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Period for recognition (in years) 4 years    
v3.20.4
Stockholders' Equity - Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options and ESPP, Valuation Assumptions (Details) - $ / shares
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Weighted-average fair value per share of grants (in dollars per share) $ 0.001    
Stock Options      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Volatility, minimum 28.00% 27.00% 27.00%
Volatility, maximum 37.00% 30.00% 28.00%
Estimated life (in years) 3 years 6 months 3 years 6 months 3 years 6 months
Risk-free interest rate, minimum 0.20% 1.60% 2.50%
Risk-free interest rate, maximum 1.40% 2.50% 3.00%
Weighted-average fair value per share of grants (in dollars per share) $ 41.24 $ 39.59 $ 28.89
ESPP      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Volatility, minimum 42.00% 28.00% 23.00%
Volatility, maximum 48.00% 33.00% 26.00%
Estimated life (in years) 9 months 9 months 9 months
Risk-free interest rate, minimum 0.10% 1.60% 2.00%
Risk-free interest rate, maximum 0.20% 2.10% 2.60%
Weighted-average fair value per share of grants (in dollars per share) $ 64.14 $ 41.43 $ 32.90
v3.20.4
Stockholders' Equity - Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity (Details)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Shares Available for Grant  
Beginning balance (in shares) 77
Ending balance (in shares) 82
Outstanding Stock Options  
Beginning balance (in shares) 27
Options granted under all plans (in shares) 8
Exercised (in shares) (10)
Plan shares expired or canceled (in shares) (2)
Ending balance (in shares) 23
Outstanding Stock Options, Vested or expected to vest (in shares) 22
Outstanding Stock Options, Exercisable (in shares) 10
Options Outstanding Weighted-Average Exercise Price  
Beginning balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 98.56
Options granted under all plans (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 147.80
Exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 79.12
Plan shares expired or canceled (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 136.34
Ending balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 120.61
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Vested or expected to vest (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 118.53
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Exercisable (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 87.40
Aggregate Intrinsic Value  
Balance | $ $ 2,455
Vested or expected to vest | $ 2,341
Exercisable | $ $ 1,440
Restricted Stock  
Shares Available for Grant  
Restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity (in shares) (19)
Performance shares  
Shares Available for Grant  
Restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity (in shares) (2)
2013 Equity Incentive Plan  
Shares Available for Grant  
Increase in shares authorized (in shares) 31
Ending balance (in shares) 80
Acquired equity plans  
Shares Available for Grant  
Increase in shares authorized (in shares) 1
v3.20.4
Stockholders' Equity - Stock Options Outstanding (Details)
shares in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
$ / shares
shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Range of Exercise Prices, Maximum (in dollars per share) $ 161.50
Options, Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares 23
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) 4 years 7 months 6 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 120.61
Options Exercisable, Number of Shares (in shares) | shares 10
Options Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) $ 87.40
$0.36 to $59.34  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Range of Exercise Prices, Minimum (in dollars per share) 0.36
Range of Exercise Prices, Maximum (in dollars per share) $ 59.34
Options, Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares 4
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) 3 years
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 41.41
Options Exercisable, Number of Shares (in shares) | shares 4
Options Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) $ 42.90
$59.64 to $118.04  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Range of Exercise Prices, Minimum (in dollars per share) 59.64
Range of Exercise Prices, Maximum (in dollars per share) $ 118.04
Options, Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares 6
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) 3 years 4 months 24 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 97.24
Options Exercisable, Number of Shares (in shares) | shares 4
Options Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) $ 92.64
$122.03 to $148.95  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Range of Exercise Prices, Minimum (in dollars per share) 122.03
Range of Exercise Prices, Maximum (in dollars per share) $ 148.95
Options, Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares 2
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) 5 years 3 months 18 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 142.49
Options Exercisable, Number of Shares (in shares) | shares 1
Options Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) $ 137.73
$154.14  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Range of Exercise Prices, Minimum (in dollars per share) $ 154.14
Options, Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares 6
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) 6 years 2 months 12 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 154.14
Options Exercisable, Number of Shares (in shares) | shares 0
Options Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) $ 0.00
$155.20 to $161.50  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Range of Exercise Prices, Minimum (in dollars per share) $ 155.20
Options, Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares 4
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) 5 years
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 161.50
Options Exercisable, Number of Shares (in shares) | shares 1
Options Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) $ 161.50
$162.81 to $258.04  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Range of Exercise Prices, Minimum (in dollars per share) 162.81
Range of Exercise Prices, Maximum (in dollars per share) $ 258.04
Options, Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares 1
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) 6 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 202.46
Options Exercisable, Number of Shares (in shares) | shares 0
Options Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) $ 0.00
v3.20.4
Stockholders' Equity - Schedule of Restricted Stock Activity (Details)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Restricted Stock  
Restricted Stock Outstanding  
Beginning balance (in shares) 28
Granted (in shares) 11
Canceled (in shares) (2)
Vested and converted to shares (in shares) (13)
Ending balance (in shares) 25
Expected to vest (in shares) 22
Restricted Stock Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price  
Beginning balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 140.14
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 165.52
Canceled (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 144.54
Vested and converted to shares (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 132.43
Ending balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 155.50
Restricted Stock Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value  
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding | $ $ 5,727
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Expected to vest | $ $ 5,058
Performance shares  
Restricted Stock Outstanding  
Granted (in shares) 1
Restricted Stock Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price  
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 154.14
v3.20.4
Stockholders' Equity - Share-based Payment Arrangement Expensed and Capitalized, Amount (Details)
$ in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
USD ($)
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Fiscal 2022 $ 1,923
Fiscal 2023 1,273
Fiscal 2024 725
Fiscal 2025 157
Total stock compensation $ 4,078
v3.20.4
Stockholders' Equity - Common Stock (Details) - shares
shares in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Options outstanding (in shares) 23 27
Stock available for future grant or issuance (in shares) 82 77
Total shares available for future grant (in shares) 137  
2013 Equity Incentive Plan    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Stock available for future grant or issuance (in shares) 80  
2014 Inducement Plan    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Stock available for future grant or issuance (in shares) 2  
Amended and Restated 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Stock available for future grant or issuance (in shares) 7  
Restricted Stock    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Restricted stock awards and units and performance-based stock units outstanding (in shares) 25 28
v3.20.4
Income Taxes - Domestic and Foreign Components of Income Before Provision For (Benefit From) Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]      
Domestic $ 2,683 $ 686 $ 839
Foreign (122) 20 144
Income before benefit from (provision for) income taxes $ 2,561 $ 706 $ 983
v3.20.4
Income Taxes - Provisions For (Benefit From) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Current:      
Federal $ (12) $ 8 $ 0
State 53 33 39
Foreign 238 512 117
Total 279 553 156
Deferred:      
Federal 228 (41) (248)
State 66 8 (37)
Foreign (2,084) 60 2
Total (1,790) 27 (283)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes [1] $ (1,511) $ 580 $ (127)
[1] Amounts include approximately $2.0 billion of one-time benefit from a discrete tax item related to the recognition of deferred tax assets resulting from an intra-entity transfer of intangible property in fiscal 2021, and a benefit related to the partial release of the valuation allowance of $612 million for fiscal 2019.
v3.20.4
Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]      
Deferred income tax benefit from intra-entity transfer of intangible property $ 2,003 $ 0 $ 0
Operating loss carryforwards 1,900    
Research and development tax credits 778    
Valuation allowance 305 290  
Increase in unrecognized tax benefits 46 581  
Unrecognized tax benefits which would affect the effective tax rate 1,300 1,200 631
Recognized interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits 25 2 4
Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits 37 $ 12 $ 10
Reasonably possible decrease of unrecognized tax benefits 3    
Foreign Tax Authority      
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]      
Tax credit carryforward 178    
California      
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]      
Operating loss carryforwards 725    
Research and development tax credits 437    
State and Local Jurisdiction      
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]      
Operating loss carryforwards 871    
Tax credit carryforward $ 72    
v3.20.4
Income Taxes - Reconciliation of statutory Federal Income Tax Rate (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]      
U.S. federal taxes at statutory rate $ 538 $ 148 $ 206
State, net of the federal benefit 90 40 79
Effects of non-U.S. operations (1,817) 540 379
Tax credits (125) (195) (132)
Non-deductible expenses 45 119 63
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation (289) (166) (137)
Effect of U.S. tax law change 23 6 43
Change in valuation allowance 15 85 (612)
Other, net 9 3 (16)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes [1] $ (1,511) $ 580 $ (127)
[1] Amounts include approximately $2.0 billion of one-time benefit from a discrete tax item related to the recognition of deferred tax assets resulting from an intra-entity transfer of intangible property in fiscal 2021, and a benefit related to the partial release of the valuation allowance of $612 million for fiscal 2019.
v3.20.4
Income Taxes - Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Deferred tax assets:    
Losses and deductions carryforward $ 202 $ 218
Deferred stock-based expense 179 193
Tax credits 990 913
Accrued liabilities 269 214
Intangible assets 2,011 0
Lease liabilities 948 769
Unearned revenue 71 4
Other 17 31
Total deferred tax assets 4,687 2,342
Less valuation allowance (305) (290)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance 4,382 2,052
Deferred tax liabilities:    
Capitalized costs to obtain revenue contracts (581) (449)
Purchased intangible assets (833) (915)
Depreciation and amortization (121) (76)
Basis difference on strategic and other investments (400) (69)
Lease right-of-use assets (863) (695)
Total deferred tax liabilities (2,798) (2,204)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) $ 1,584  
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)   $ (152)
v3.20.4
Income Taxes - Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]      
Beginning of period $ 1,433 $ 852 $ 304
Tax Positions taken in prior period, gross increases 77 12 474
Tax positions taken in prior period, gross decreases (40) (37) (2)
Tax Positions taken in current period, gross increases 107 640 107
Settlements (87) (27) (15)
Lapse of statute of limitations (19) (4) (10)
Currency translation effect   (3) (6)
Currency translation effect 8    
End of period $ 1,479 $ 1,433 $ 852
v3.20.4
Net Income Per Share - Reconciliation of Denominator Used in Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($)
shares in Millions, $ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Numerator:      
Net income $ 4,072 $ 126 $ 1,110
Denominator:      
Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share (in shares) 908 829 751
Dilutive effect of employee stock awards (in shares) 22 21 21
Convertible senior notes which matured in April 2018 (in shares) 0 0 1
Warrants which settled in June and July 2018 (in shares) 0 0 2
Adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding and assumed conversions for diluted earnings (loss) per share (in shares) 930 850 775
v3.20.4
Net Income Per Share - Shares Excluded from Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - shares
shares in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Employee stock awards      
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]      
Anti-dilutive securities excluded (in shares) 6 7 4
v3.20.4
Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Jan. 31, 2020
Jan. 31, 2019
Compensation Related Costs [Abstract]      
Company contributions $ 163 $ 127 $ 106
v3.20.4
Legal Proceedings and Claims (Details) - Tableau Software, Inc. (Tableau) Litigation
 1 Months Ended 2 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2018
defendant
Aug. 31, 2017
claim
defendant
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]    
Number of claims filed | claim   2
Number of defendants | defendant 2 2
v3.20.4
Related-Party Transactions (Details) - Foundation
Jan. 31, 2021
board_seat
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]  
Number of Company's board members that hold board seats in Foundation 1
Number of board seats in Foundation 3
v3.20.4
Subsequent Event (Details)
$ in Millions
 1 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2021
USD ($)
Subsequent Event | Acumen  
Subsequent Event [Line Items]  
Total estimated consideration $ 433