SHAREOWNERS’ EQUITY - Shares of GE Preferred Stock (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jan. 20, 2016	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jul. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued		$ 6,000,000	$ 6,000,000	$ 6,000,000	$ 6,000,000		$ 6,000,000
GE
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued		5,495,000,000		5,495,000,000
Preferred stock dividends		185,000,000	182,000,000	222,000,000	216,000,000
Cash dividends on preferred stock		147,000,000	$ 147,000,000	147,000,000	$ 147,000,000
GE | Subsequent Event
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued						$ 5,944,000,000
GE | Series D Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued	$ 5,694,000,000	$ 5,694,000,000		$ 5,694,000,000
Fixed interest rate	5.00%
Floating rate	3.33%
GE | Series A, B and C Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate	4.07%
Preferred stock, value outstanding	$ 250,000,000