Borrowings and Bank Deposits (Borrowings) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	$ 77,298	$ 95,940
Long-term borrowings	210,279	224,776
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entities	30,124	30,123
Bank deposits	53,361	46,200
US Commercial Paper [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	24,877	33,686
Short-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.18%	0.22%
Non US Commercial Paper [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	4,168	9,370
Short-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.33%	0.92%
Current Portion Of Long Term Borrowings [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	39,215	44,264
Short-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.70%	2.85%
GE Interest Plus notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	8,699	8,189
Short-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.11%	1.20%
Other Short Term Borrowing [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	339	431
Senior unsecured notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	186,433	199,646
Maturities on long-term borrowings, Minimum	2015
Long Term Debt Maturities Range In Years Maximum	2054
Long-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.97%	2.95%
Subordinated notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	4,821	4,965
Maturities on long-term borrowings, Minimum	2021
Long Term Debt Maturities Range In Years Maximum	2037
Long-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	3.93%	2.92%
Subordinated Debt [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	7,462	7,286
Maturities on long-term borrowings, Minimum	2066
Long Term Debt Maturities Range In Years Maximum	2067
Long-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.64%	5.78%
Subordinated Debt [Member] | Scenario, Adjustment [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	2,981
Other Long Term Borrowing [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	11,563	12,879
Long-term Debt [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Total borrowings and bank deposits	$ 371,062	$ 397,039
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entites [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Maturities on long-term borrowings, Minimum	2014
Long Term Debt Maturities Range In Years Maximum	2019
Long-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.05%	1.12%