Businesses Held for Sale, Financing Receivables Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations (Discontinued Operations - business) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Operations
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	$ (783)	$ (948)	$ (3,898)	$ (1,835)
Disposal
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes(a)	(3,750)	661	(9,989)	1,359
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	6,448		6,448		$ 5,414
Financing Receivables - net	28,570		28,570		114,561
Financing receivables held for sale	26,574		26,574		421
Assets of discontinued operations	154,876		154,876		186,934
Liabilities
Other	0		0		0
Deferred income taxes	4,349		4,349		5,402
Liabilities of discontinued operations	48,981		48,981		48,794
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Operations
Total revenues and other income (loss)	3,378	3,933	6,780	7,913
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	980	647	(857)	1,395
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(325)	18	450	(51)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes	655	665	(407)	1,344
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes	(3,384)	(4)	(7,036)	14
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(1,021)	0	(2,546)	1
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes	(4,405)	(4)	(9,582)	15
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes(a)	(3,750)	661	(9,989)	1,359
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	6,448		6,448		5,414
Investment securities	9,960		9,960		10,006
Financing Receivables - net	28,570		28,570		114,561
Other receivables	1,718		1,718		2,192
Property, plant and equipment - net	17,902		17,902		18,051
Goodwill	12,982		12,982		13,569
Intangible Assets - Net	165		165		301
Deferred income taxes	2,148		2,148		2,920
Financing receivables held for sale	68,828		68,828		3,116
Valuation allowance on disposal group	(7,259)		(7,259)		0
Other	13,414		13,414		16,804
Assets of discontinued operations	154,876		154,876		186,934
Liabilities
Short-term Borrowings	994		994		1,125
Accounts Payable	3,969		3,969		3,770
Other GE Current Liabilities	27		27		28
Non-recourse borrowings	9,168		9,168		10,569
Bank Deposits	19,572		19,572		18,998
Long-term borrowings	612		612		1,182
Other	10,290		10,290		7,720
Deferred income taxes	4,349		4,349		5,402
Liabilities of discontinued operations	48,981		48,981		48,794
GECC Real Estate [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member] | GE Capital Exit Plan [Member]
Operations
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	29	196	(1,738)	332
CLL [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member] | GE Capital Exit Plan [Member]
Operations
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	(2,415)	499	(6,128)	1,120
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes	3,380
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes	4,329
GECC [Member]
Operations
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	(783)	(948)	(3,898)	(1,835)
Disposal
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes(a)	(3,747)	665	(9,985)	1,364
Assets
Financing receivables held for sale	27,982		27,982		778
Assets of discontinued operations	154,867		154,867		186,924
Liabilities
Non-recourse borrowings	1,234		1,234		1,183
Liabilities of discontinued operations	48,856		48,856		$ 48,657
GECC [Member] | GECC Real Estate [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Operations
Total revenues and other income (loss)	313	664	812	1,295
Interest	(137)	(274)	(373)	(547)
Operating and administrative	(142)	(201)	(307)	(351)
Depreciation and amortization	(2)	(85)	(62)	(170)
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	0	90	4	104
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	32	194	74	331
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	13	93	43	196
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes	45	287	117	527
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes	(3)	0	(1,811)	0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(72)	0	(619)	0
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes	(75)	0	(2,430)	0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes(a)	(30)	287	(2,313)	527
GECC [Member] | CLL [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Operations
Total revenues and other income (loss)	3,070	3,308	5,973	6,628
Interest	(641)	(774)	(1,343)	(1,562)
Operating and administrative	(1,028)	(955)	(2,005)	(1,791)
Depreciation and amortization	(421)	(960)	(1,768)	(1,935)
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	(13)	(110)	(1,757)	(207)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	967	509	(900)	1,133
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(309)	(73)	315	(218)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes	658	436	(585)	915
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes	(3,380)	0	(5,225)	0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(949)	0	(1,927)	0
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes	(4,329)	0	(7,152)	0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes(a)	$ (3,671)	$ 436	$ (7,737)	$ 915