Financing Receivables and Allowance for Losses on Financing Receivables (Allowance for Losses on Financing Receivables) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	$ 4,914	$ 4,986
Provision charged	4,859	984
Other	(525)	16
Gross write-offs	(6,245)	(1,341)
Recoveries	346	324
Balance at March 31	3,349	4,969
Restructuring charges
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Provision charged	3,955
Gross write-offs	5,072
CLL
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	831	978
Provision charged	1,749	102
Other	(250)	1
Gross write-offs	(2,345)	(256)
Recoveries	50	43
Balance at March 31	35	868
Energy Financial Services [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	26	8
Provision charged	7	9
Other	(1)	0
Gross write-offs	(15)	(2)
Recoveries	0	1
Balance at March 31	17	16
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	46	17
Provision charged	(4)	8
Other	0	0
Gross write-offs	0	0
Recoveries	0	0
Balance at March 31	42	25
Other commercial [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1		2
Provision charged		(1)
Other		(1)
Gross write-offs		0
Recoveries		0
Balance at March 31		0
Commercial [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	903	1,005
Provision charged	1,752	118
Other	(251)	0
Gross write-offs	(2,360)	(258)
Recoveries	50	44
Balance at March 31	94	909
Consumer [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	4,011	3,981
Provision charged	3,107	866
Other	(274)	16
Gross write-offs	(3,885)	(1,083)
Recoveries	296	280
Balance at March 31	$ 3,255	$ 4,060