Businesses Held for Sale, Financing Receivables Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations (Discontinued Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Operations
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	[1]	$ (738)	$ (858)	$ (4,636)	$ (2,693)
Disposal
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes(a)	[1]	(347)	706	(10,336)	2,065
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		11,226		11,226		$ 5,414
Financing Receivables - net		11,622		11,622		114,561
Financing receivables held for sale	[1]	22,832		22,832		421
Assets of discontinued operations	[1]	121,949		121,949		186,934
Liabilities
Other		0		0		0
Deferred income taxes		2,607		2,607		5,402
Liabilities of discontinued operations	[1]	43,768		43,768		48,794
Discontinued operations
Operations
Total revenues and other income (loss)		2,756	4,033	9,536	11,946
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes		1,060	666	202	2,061
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		(420)	40	30	(11)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes		640	706	232	2,050
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes		(2,616)	0	(9,652)	14
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		1,629	0	(916)	1
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes		(987)	0	(10,568)	15
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes(a)		(347)	706	(10,336)	2,065
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		11,226		11,226		5,414
Investment securities		8,179		8,179		10,006
Financing Receivables - net		11,622		11,622		114,561
Other receivables		1,479		1,479		2,192
Property, plant and equipment - net		12,084		12,084		18,051
Goodwill		9,867		9,867		13,569
Intangible Assets - Net		44		44		301
Deferred income taxes		2,389		2,389		2,920
Financing receivables held for sale		65,390		65,390		3,116
Valuation allowance on disposal group		(7,650)		(7,650)		0
Other		7,320		7,320		16,804
Assets of discontinued operations		121,949		121,949		186,934
Liabilities
Short-term Borrowings		820		820		1,125
Accounts Payable		3,884		3,884		3,770
Other GE Current Liabilities		27		27		28
Non-recourse borrowings		8,072		8,072		10,569
Bank Deposits		18,348		18,348		18,998
Long-term borrowings		316		316		1,182
Other		9,695		9,695		7,720
Deferred income taxes		2,607		2,607		5,402
Liabilities of discontinued operations		43,768		43,768		48,794
GECC Real Estate | Discontinued operations | GE Capital Exit Plan
Operations
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes		81	120	(1,658)	452
CLL | Discontinued operations | GE Capital Exit Plan
Operations
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes		(1,608)	589	(7,736)	1,710
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes		(2,834)
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes		(1,205)
GECC
Operations
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	[1]	(738)	(858)	(4,636)	(2,693)
Disposal
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes(a)	[1]	(347)	706	(10,332)	2,070
Assets
Financing receivables held for sale	[1]	23,665		23,665		778
Assets of discontinued operations	[1]	121,940		121,940		186,924
Liabilities
Non-recourse borrowings		1,216		1,216		1,183
Liabilities of discontinued operations	[1]	43,642		43,642		$ 48,657
GECC | GECC Real Estate | Discontinued operations
Operations
Total revenues and other income (loss)		81	698	893	1,992
Interest		(64)	(270)	(437)	(817)
Operating and administrative		(156)	(213)	(464)	(563)
Depreciation and amortization		0	(82)	(62)	(252)
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses		0	(12)	4	92
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes		(139)	121	(65)	452
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		53	55	95	251
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes		(86)	176	30	703
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes		(218)	0	1,593	0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		0	0	618	0
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes		(218)	0	2,211	0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes(a)		132	176	(2,181)	703
GECC | CLL | Discontinued operations
Operations
Total revenues and other income (loss)		2,691	3,370	8,664	9,998
Interest		(576)	(762)	(1,919)	(2,324)
Operating and administrative		(900)	(942)	(2,905)	(2,732)
Depreciation and amortization		0	(988)	(1,768)	(2,923)
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses		13	(87)	(1,744)	(294)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes		1,228	591	328	1,725
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		(484)	(108)	(169)	(326)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes		744	483	159	1,399
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes		(2,834)	0	(8,059)	0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		(1,629)	0	298	0
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes		(1,205)	0	(8,357)	0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes(a)		$ (461)	$ 483	$ (8,198)	$ 1,399

[1] Amounts may not add due to rounding.