Parent Company (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 7,514	$ 8,060	$ 3,135
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	21,079	14,645	5,591
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Other investing activities	0	0	135
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(33,689)	(10,529)	11,632
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from long-term debt	23,230	7,788	69
Payments of long-term debt	(18,906)	(11,662)	(15,593)
Issuance of American Express preferred shares	0	1,584	0
Redemption of American Express preferred shares	0	(1,600)	0
Issuance of American Express common shares	56	64	44
Repurchase of American Express common shares and other	(3,502)	(7,652)	(1,029)
Dividends paid	(1,565)	(1,448)	(1,474)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	24,509	(14,933)	(9,068)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	11,886	(10,937)	8,519
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	22,028	32,965	24,446
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	33,914	22,028	32,965
Parent Company
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	7,514	8,060	3,135
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in net income of subsidiaries and affiliates	(7,905)	(8,560)	(3,716)
Dividends received from subsidiaries and affiliates	5,549	9,102	2,679
Other operating activities, primarily with subsidiaries and affiliates	160	(305)	732
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,318	8,297	2,830
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
(Increase) decrease in loans to subsidiaries and affiliates	(4,850)	(176)	11,434
Investments in subsidiaries and affiliates	(1)	(60)	(52)
Other investing activities	0	0	74
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(4,851)	(236)	11,456
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net decrease in short-term debt from subsidiaries and affiliates	(136)	(2,636)	(3,289)
Proceeds from long-term debt	13,202	3,000	0
Payments of long-term debt	(5,675)	(5,000)	(2,000)
Issuance of American Express preferred shares	0	1,584	0
Redemption of American Express preferred shares	0	(1,600)	0
Issuance of American Express common shares	56	64	44
Repurchase of American Express common shares and other	(3,502)	(7,652)	(1,029)
Dividends paid	(1,565)	(1,448)	(1,474)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	2,380	(13,688)	(7,748)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,847	(5,627)	6,538
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	5,341	10,968	4,430
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	8,188	5,341	10,968
Non-Cash Investing Activities
Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates	0	(1,787)	(4,971)
Non-Cash Financing Activities
Short-term debts from subsidiaries and affiliates	0	0	4,971
Proceeds from long-term debt	$ 0	$ 1,787	$ 0