Investments (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Unrealized gain on:
Pretax		$ 727		$ 517
Deferred Tax and Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		(261)		(185)
Net		466	[1]	332	[1]	$ 799	$ 743
Total investments [Member]
Unrealized gain on:
Pretax		1,233		803
Deferred Tax and Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		(438)		(285)
Net		795		518
Fixed maturities [Member]
Unrealized gain on:
Pretax		1,172		719
Deferred Tax and Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		(417)		(255)
Net		755		464
Fixed maturities - annuity segment [Member]
Unrealized gain on:
Pretax	[2]	910		523
Deferred Tax and Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	[2]	(319)		(183)
Net	[2]	591		340
Fixed maturities - all other [Member]
Unrealized gain on:
Pretax		262		196
Deferred Tax and Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		(98)		(72)
Net		164		124
Equity securities [Member]
Unrealized gain on:
Pretax		61		84
Deferred Tax and Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		(21)		(30)
Net		40		54
Deferred policy acquisition costs - annuity segment [Member]
Unrealized gain on:
Pretax		(400)		(233)
Deferred Tax and Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		140		82
Net		(260)		(151)
Annuity benefits accumulated [Member]
Unrealized gain on:
Pretax		(125)		(64)
Deferred Tax and Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		44		22
Net		(81)		(42)
Life, accident and health reserves [Member]
Unrealized gain on:
Pretax		(1)
Deferred Tax and Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		0
Net		(1)
Unearned revenue [Member]
Unrealized gain on:
Pretax		20		11
Deferred Tax and Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		(7)		(4)
Net		$ 13		$ 7

[1] Includes net unrealized gains of $46 million at March 31, 2016 and $51 million at December 31, 2015 related to securities for which only the credit portion of an other-than-temporary impairment has been recorded in earnings.

[2] Unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments supporting AFG’s annuity benefits accumulated.