GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues
Total revenues (Note 26)									$ 95,214	$ 97,012	$ 99,279
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges									4,227	4,766	4,655
Other costs and expenses									92,059	115,554	108,052
Total costs and expenses									96,287	120,320	112,707
Other income									2,222	2,321	2,083
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates									0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									1,149	(20,987)	(11,345)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes									(726)	(93)	2,808
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$ 845	$ (1,290)	$ (115)	$ 983	$ 697	$ (23,014)	$ 791	$ 446	423	(21,080)	(8,536)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(123)	(8,093)	219	2,663	163	155	(122)	(1,559)	(5,335)	(1,363)	(312)
Net earnings (loss)	721	(9,383)	104	3,645	860	(22,859)	669	(1,113)	(4,912)	(22,443)	(8,849)
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7)	40	(23)	57	99	(90)	(132)	34	66	(89)	(365)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	$ 728	$ (9,423)	$ 127	$ 3,588	$ 761	$ (22,769)	$ 800	$ (1,147)	(4,979)	(22,355)	(8,484)
Other comprehensive income									2,681	(10)	4,184
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company									(2,297)	(22,364)	(4,300)
Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues
Sales of goods and services									256	218	188
Costs and expenses
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates									206	21	208
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company Guarantor
Revenues
Total revenues (Note 26)									28,078	34,972	35,551
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges									1,612	1,728	1,644
Other costs and expenses									32,563	47,471	38,765
Total costs and expenses									34,175	49,199	40,409
Other income									(3,853)	3,910	(959)
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates									5,923	(11,404)	553
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(4,028)	(21,721)	(5,263)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes									(1,143)	1,092	(2,896)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations									(5,170)	(20,629)	(8,159)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes									192	(1,726)	(325)
Net earnings (loss)									(4,979)	(22,355)	(8,484)
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company									(4,979)	(22,355)	(8,484)
Other comprehensive income									2,681	(10)	4,184
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company									(2,297)	(22,364)	(4,300)
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Issuer
Revenues
Total revenues (Note 26)									964	917	703
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges									980	911	652
Other costs and expenses									1	0	0
Total costs and expenses									981	911	653
Other income									0	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates									0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(17)	6	50
Benefit (provision) for income taxes									1	5	(5)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations									(16)	11	45
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes									0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)									(16)	11	45
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company									(16)	11	45
Other comprehensive income									0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company									(16)	11	45
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Guarantor
Revenues
Total revenues (Note 26)									64	1,038	800
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges									1,405	2,560	2,006
Other costs and expenses									0	1	18
Total costs and expenses									1,406	2,561	2,023
Other income									0	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates									1,290	1,554	1,938
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(52)	31	714
Benefit (provision) for income taxes									0	0	115
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations									(52)	31	829
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes									59	(39)	41
Net earnings (loss)									7	(8)	870
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company									7	(8)	870
Other comprehensive income									(1,022)	(82)	567
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company									(1,015)	(90)	1,436
Reportable Legal Entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues
Total revenues (Note 26)									164,876	174,222	171,060
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges									1,975	2,459	3,343
Other costs and expenses									166,371	186,262	177,223
Total costs and expenses									168,346	188,721	180,566
Other income									30,453	29,268	75,291
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates									75,445	240,036	109,521
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									102,427	254,803	175,307
Benefit (provision) for income taxes									(228)	(2,381)	5,877
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations									102,200	252,422	181,184
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes									0	0	4
Net earnings (loss)									102,200	252,422	181,187
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests									7	(204)	(137)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company									102,192	252,627	181,324
Other comprehensive income									2,280	(2,840)	(7,552)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company									104,472	249,786	173,773
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues
Total revenues (Note 26)									(98,768)	(114,136)	(108,835)
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges									(1,745)	(2,893)	(2,990)
Other costs and expenses									(106,876)	(118,180)	(107,954)
Total costs and expenses									(108,622)	(121,073)	(110,943)
Other income									(24,378)	(30,857)	(72,249)
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates									(82,658)	(230,186)	(112,012)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(97,182)	(254,106)	(182,152)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes									643	1,191	(282)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations									(96,539)	(252,915)	(182,435)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes									(5,585)	401	(32)
Net earnings (loss)									(102,124)	(252,514)	(182,467)
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests									59	116	(228)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company									(102,184)	(252,629)	(182,239)
Other comprehensive income									(1,258)	2,922	6,985
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company									(103,441)	(249,707)	(175,254)
Sales of goods and services
Revenues
Sales of goods and services									87,487	88,940	91,942
Sales of goods and services | Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company Guarantor
Revenues
Sales of goods and services									28,078	34,972	35,551
Sales of goods and services | Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Issuer
Revenues
Sales of goods and services									0	0	0
Sales of goods and services | Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Guarantor
Revenues
Sales of goods and services									0	0	0
Sales of goods and services | Reportable Legal Entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues
Sales of goods and services									154,927	164,691	161,172
Sales of goods and services | Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues
Sales of goods and services									(95,518)	(110,723)	(104,782)
GE Capital revenues from services
Revenues
Total revenues (Note 26)									7,728	8,072	7,337
GE Capital revenues from services | Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company Guarantor
Revenues
Total revenues (Note 26)									0	0	0
GE Capital revenues from services | Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Issuer
Revenues
Total revenues (Note 26)									964	917	703
GE Capital revenues from services | Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Guarantor
Revenues
Total revenues (Note 26)									64	1,038	800
GE Capital revenues from services | Reportable Legal Entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues
Total revenues (Note 26)									9,949	9,531	9,888
GE Capital revenues from services | Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues
Total revenues (Note 26)									$ (3,250)	$ (3,414)	$ (4,053)