EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Numerator for EPS:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations									$ (259)	$ 2,222	$ 7,574
Less:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ 535	$ (26)	$ 11	$ (20)	$ (8)	$ 34	$ (9)	$ 9	500	26	(5)
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders from continuing operations									(759)	2,196	7,579
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax	$ (36)	$ 3	$ (10)	$ (47)	$ 0	$ (17)	$ 16	$ 1	(90)	0	(50)
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders									$ (849)	$ 2,196	$ 7,529
Denominator for EPS:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	1,023,886,592	1,071,295,892	1,113,587,927	1,156,548,459	1,226,880,632	1,279,072,748	1,329,157,366	1,365,951,690	1,091,085,131	1,299,825,350	1,427,959,799
Dilutive shares									0	34,639,533	19,593,853
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	1,023,886,592	1,102,400,770	1,140,045,973	1,156,548,459	1,226,880,632	1,279,072,748	1,365,390,431	1,386,263,549	1,091,085,131	1,334,464,883	1,447,553,652
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ (2.93)	$ 0.43	$ 1.73	$ (0.12)	$ (1.5)	$ (0.17)	$ 1.34	$ 1.81	$ (0.7)	$ 1.69	$ 5.31
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.03)	0	(0.01)	(0.04)	0	(0.01)	0.01	0	(0.08)	0	(0.04)
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG									(0.78)	1.69	5.27
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(2.93)	0.42	1.69	(0.12)	(1.5)	(0.17)	1.31	1.78	(0.7)	1.65	5.24
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ (0.03)	$ 0	$ (0.01)	$ (0.04)	$ 0	$ (0.01)	$ 0.01	$ 0	(0.08)	0	(0.04)
Net Income (loss) attributable to AIG									$ (0.78)	$ 1.65	$ 5.2
Number of shares, warrants, and options excluded from diluted shares outstanding because the effect would have been anti-dilutive									200,000	200,000	300,000
Dilutive Shares Excluded From Computation Of Diluted Earnings Per Share									30,326,772