Charges related to updating (unlocking) of actuarial assumptions recognized in the income statement.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Favorable prior year reserve development of the Company's liability for losses and loss adjustment expenses related to certain lines of business within subsidiaries including exited and ongoing lines of business in connection with a reinsurance to close agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Net holding gains (losses) on equity securities in net earnings on securities that were still owned. All equity securities other than those accounted for under the equity method are carried at fair value through net earnings.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Pretax Catastrophe losses

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Quarterly operating results unaudited.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

S&P 500 impact on earnings before income taxes from annuity operations beyond the impact of derivatives

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

S&P 500 index increase (decrease) during period

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Special charges to increase asbestos and environmental reserves.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents the amount of gain (loss) on sale of properties during the reporting period gross of the applicable income taxes realized.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
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- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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- Definition

Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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- Definition

Write-off of amounts previously capitalized as debt issuance cost in an extinguishment of debt.

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Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
S&P 500 Index increase (decrease) during period	(14.00%)
Pretax catastrophe losses					$ 107				$ 103	$ 140
Income tax expense (benefit)									122	247	$ 119
Property and casualty insurance \| Other lines
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
Special charges to increase asbestos and environmental reserves		$ 18			89				18	89	36
Favorable reserve development related to certain lines of business within subsidiaries in connection with a reinsurance to close agreement										18
Property and casualty insurance \| Real estate investment
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
Pretax income from the sale of real estate properties included in other income							$ 13				32
Annuity
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
S&P 500 impact on annuity earnings before income taxes beyond the impact of derivatives	$ (30)
Other
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
Special charges to increase asbestos and environmental reserves									9	24	5
Write off of deferred debt issuance cost due to the retirement of debt					4	$ 7
Make-whole premium, settlement of interest rate swap and write off of deferred debt issuance cost included in the loss on the retirement of debt				$ 40						51
Other \| Former railroad and manufacturing operations
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
Special charges to increase asbestos and environmental reserves		$ 9			$ 24
Neon Capital Limited
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
Income tax expense (benefit)				(56)				$ (111)			(48)
Neon Capital Limited \| Property and casualty insurance
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
Favorable reserve development related to certain lines of business within subsidiaries in connection with a reinsurance to close agreement				42
Neon Capital Limited \| Property and casualty insurance \| Other lines
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
Favorable reserve development related to certain lines of business within subsidiaries in connection with a reinsurance to close agreement				18
Neon Capital Limited \| Neon Capital Limited \| Current lines
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
Favorable reserve development related to certain lines of business within subsidiaries in connection with a reinsurance to close agreement				24
AFG
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
Income tax expense (benefit)				(56)					122	$ 247	$ 119
Annuity benefits \| Annuity
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
Charges resulting from updating (unlocking) actuarial assumptions	4		$ 27	$ 3
Equity securities \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 \| Equity securities still owned
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
Net holding gains (losses) on equity securities									(257)
Equity securities \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 \| Equity securities still owned \| Realized gains (losses) on securities
Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) [Line Items]
Net holding gains (losses) on equity securities	$ (228)								$ (279)