Condensed Consolidating Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Operating Activities:
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests	$ 88	$ 54
Adjustments:
Other operating activities, net	(78)	335
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	10	389
Investing Activities:
Purchases of investments, property and equipment	(1,093)	(1,189)
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of investments	516	600
Proceeds from sales of investments, property and equipment	196	297
Managed investment entities:
Purchases of investments	(566)	(352)
Proceeds from sales and redemptions of investments	774	400
Other investing activities, net	(10)	(13)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(183)	(257)
Financing Activities:
Annuity receipts	804	672
Annuity surrenders, benefits and withdrawals	(348)	(311)
Issuances of managed investment entities' liabilities	359
Retirement of managed investment entities' liabilities	(489)	(4)
Issuances of Common Stock	14	11
Repurchases of Common Stock	(56)	(84)
Cash dividends paid on Common Stock	(17)	(16)
Other financing activities, net	4
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	271	268
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	98	400
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,324	1,099
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,422	1,499
AFG [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests	113	88
Adjustments:
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	(134)	(110)
Dividends from subsidiaries	55	105
Other operating activities, net		(23)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	34	60
Investing Activities:
Purchases of investments, property and equipment	(8)	(7)
Capital contributions to subsidiaries	(4)	(5)
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of investments		2
Managed investment entities:
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(12)	(10)
Financing Activities:
Issuances of Common Stock	14	10
Repurchases of Common Stock	(56)	(84)
Cash dividends paid on Common Stock	(17)	(16)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(59)	(90)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(37)	(40)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	415	370
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	378	330
GAFRI [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests	49	30
Adjustments:
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	(51)	(30)
Other operating activities, net	(2)	(2)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(4)	(2)
Investing Activities:
Capital contributions to subsidiaries	(8)	(8)
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of investments		2
Managed investment entities:
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(8)	(6)
Financing Activities:
Capital contributions from parent	4	4
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	4	4
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(8)	(4)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	19	20
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	11	16
AAG Holding [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests	49	31
Adjustments:
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	(54)	(36)
Other operating activities, net	(3)	(2)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(8)	(7)
Investing Activities:
Capital contributions to subsidiaries		(1)
Managed investment entities:
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(1)
Financing Activities:
Capital contributions from parent	8	8
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	8	8
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0
All Other Subs [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests	116	81
Adjustments:
Other operating activities, net	(73)	362
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	43	443
Investing Activities:
Purchases of investments, property and equipment	(1,085)	(1,182)
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of investments	516	596
Proceeds from sales of investments, property and equipment	196	297
Managed investment entities:
Purchases of investments	(566)	(352)
Proceeds from sales and redemptions of investments	744	400
Other investing activities, net	(10)	(13)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(175)	(254)
Financing Activities:
Annuity receipts	804	672
Annuity surrenders, benefits and withdrawals	(348)	(311)
Issuances of managed investment entities' liabilities	359
Retirement of managed investment entities' liabilities	(489)	(4)
Issuances of Common Stock		1
Capital contributions from parent		2
Cash dividends paid on Common Stock	(55)	(105)
Other financing activities, net	4
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	275	255
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	143	444
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	890	709
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,033	1,153
Consol. Entries [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests	(239)	(176)
Adjustments:
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	239	176
Dividends from subsidiaries	(55)	(105)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(55)	(105)
Investing Activities:
Capital contributions to subsidiaries	12	14
Managed investment entities:
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	12	14
Financing Activities:
Capital contributions from parent	(12)	(14)
Cash dividends paid on Common Stock	55	105
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	43	91
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 0	$ 0