Borrowings and Bank Deposits (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	$ 95,940	$ 136,333
Long-term borrowings	224,776	234,391
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entities	30,123	29,258
Bank deposits	46,461	43,115
Total borrowings and bank deposits	397,300	443,097
US Commercial Paper [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	33,686	33,591
Short-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.22%	0.23%
Non US Commercial Paper [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	9,370	10,569
Short-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.92%	1.67%
Current Portion Of Long Term Borrowings [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	44,264	82,650
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entities	9,095	10,714
Short-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.85%	2.72%
GE Interest Plus notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	8,189	8,474
Short-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.20%	1.32%
Other Short Term Borrowing [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	431	1,049
Senior unsecured notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	199,646	210,154
Maturities on long-term borrowings, Minimum	2014
Maturities on long-term borrowings, Maximum	2055
Long-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.95%	3.49%
Subordinated notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	4,965	4,862
Maturities on long-term borrowings, Minimum	2014
Maturities on long-term borrowings, Maximum	2037
Long-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.92%	3.42%
Subordinated Debt [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	7,286	7,215
Maturities on long-term borrowings, Minimum	2066
Maturities on long-term borrowings, Maximum	2067
Long-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.78%	6.66%
Other Long Term Borrowing [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	12,879	12,160
Long-term Debt [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	224,776	234,391
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entities	$ 21,028	$ 18,544
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entites [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Maturities on long-term borrowings, Minimum	2013
Maturities on long-term borrowings, Maximum	2019
Long-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.12%	1.40%