Shareholders' Equity (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
AOCI beginning balance					$ 304
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		$ 225		$ (216)	371		$ (166)
AOCI ending balance		669			669
Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Other comprehensive income (loss), unrealized holding gains on securities arising during the period, Pretax		326		(329)	518		(223)
Other comprehensive income (loss), unrealized holding gains on securities arising during the period, tax		(113)		115	(180)		78
Other comprehensive income (loss), unrealized holding gains on securities arising during the period, net of tax		213		(214)	338		(145)
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income, pretax	[1]	16		(1)	34		(20)
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income, tax	[1]	(6)		0	(13)		7
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax		10		(1)	21		(13)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss), pretax		342		(330)	552		(243)
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax		(119)		115	(193)		85
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		223		(215)	359		(158)
Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Other comprehensive income (loss), unrealized holding gains on securities arising during the period, net of tax		(4)		3	(5)		2
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	[1]	0		0	(1)		0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(4)		3	(6)		2
Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Other comprehensive income (loss), unrealized holding gains on securities arising during the period, net of tax		209		(211)	333		(143)
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax		10		(1)	20		(13)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
AOCI beginning balance		466	[2]	799	332	[2]	743
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		219		(212)	353		(156)
AOCI ending balance		685	[2]	587	685	[2]	587
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss), pretax		2		(1)	7		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax		(1)		0	(3)		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		1		(1)	4		0
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		0		0	0		0
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
AOCI beginning balance		4		1	1		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		1		(1)	4		0
AOCI ending balance		5		0	5		0
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss), pretax		1		(1)	4		(6)
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax		0		1	3		(2)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		1		0	7		(8)
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		0		0	0		0
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
AOCI beginning balance		(16)		(16)	(22)		(8)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		1		0	7		(8)
AOCI ending balance		(15)		(16)	(15)		(16)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss), pretax		0		0	1		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax		0		0	0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		0		0	1		0
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		0		0	0		0
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
AOCI beginning balance		(6)		(8)	(7)		(8)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		0		0	1		0
AOCI ending balance		(6)		(8)	(6)		(8)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss), pretax		345		(332)	564		(249)
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax		(120)		116	(193)		83
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		225		(216)	371		(166)
AOCI Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(4)		3	(6)		2
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
AOCI beginning balance		448		776	304		727
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		221		(213)	365		(164)
AOCI ending balance		$ 669		$ 563	$ 669		$ 563

[1] The reclassification adjustment out of net unrealized gains on securities affected the following lines in AFG’s Statement of Earnings: OCI component Affected line in the statement of earnings Pretax Realized gains (losses) on securities Tax Provision for income taxes Attributable to noncontrolling interests Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

[2] Includes net unrealized gains of $48 million at June 30, 2016 compared to $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.