Financing Receivables and Allowance for Losses (Allowance for Losses on Financing Receivables) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	$ 4,104	$ 4,025
Provision charged	4,636	2,693
Other	(252)	(123)
Gross write-offs	(5,680)	(3,242)
Recoveries	649	878
Balance at September 30	3,457	4,231
GE Capital Exit Plan [Member]
Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Provision charged	2,405
Gross write-offs	2,859
CLL [Member]
Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	21	17
Provision charged	20	8
Other	0	(1)
Gross write-offs	(15)	(11)
Recoveries	6	7
Balance at September 30	32	20
Energy Financial Services [Member]
Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	26	8
Provision charged	16	13
Other	0	0
Gross write-offs	(29)	(17)
Recoveries	1	2
Balance at September 30	14	6
GECAS [Member]
Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	46	17
Provision charged	(11)	9
Other	0	0
Gross write-offs	(1)	(11)
Recoveries	3	0
Balance at September 30	37	15
Other Commercial [Member]
Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	0	2
Provision charged	15	0
Other	0	(2)
Gross write-offs	(13)	0
Recoveries	0	0
Balance at September 30	2	0
Commercial [Member]
Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	93	44
Provision charged	40	30
Other	0	(3)
Gross write-offs	(58)	(39)
Recoveries	10	9
Balance at September 30	85	41
Consumer [Member]
Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at January 1	4,011	3,981
Provision charged	4,596	2,663
Other	(252)	(120)
Gross write-offs	(5,622)	(3,203)
Recoveries	639	869
Balance at September 30	$ 3,372	$ 4,190