HELD-FOR-SALE CLASSIFICATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions					3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 18, 2016	Nov. 14, 2016	Oct. 18, 2016	Sep. 16, 2016	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	Aug. 15, 2016	Dec. 31, 2013
Held-for-Sale Classification
Net income (loss) on sale of properties and divested businesses					$ (194)	$ (128)	$ (225)	$ 2	$ 1	$ 3	$ 1	$ 6	$ 545	$ (11)	$ 2,197
Assets:
Mortgage and other loans receivable, net					33,240				29,565				33,240	29,565
Other invested assets					24,538				29,794				24,538	29,794
Short-term investments					12,302				10,132				12,302	10,132
Cash					1,868				1,629				1,868	1,629	1,758		$ 2,241
Accrued investment income					2,495				2,623				2,495	2,623
Premiums and other receivables, net of allowance					10,465				11,451				10,465	11,451
Reinsurance assets, net of allowance					21,901				20,413				21,901	20,413
Deferred policy acquisition costs					11,042				11,115				11,042	11,115	9,828		9,436
Other assets					10,815				11,289				10,815	11,289
Total assets held for sale					7,199								7,199
Liabilities:
Liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses					77,077				74,942				77,077	74,942	$ 77,260		$ 81,547
Unearned premiums					19,634				21,318				19,634	21,318
Future policy benefits for life and accident and health insurance contracts					42,204				43,585				42,204	43,585
Other policyholder funds					3,989				4,212				3,989	4,212
Long-term Debt					30,912				29,249				30,912	29,249
Other Liabilities					26,296				$ 26,164				26,296	$ 26,164
Total liabilities held for sale					6,106								6,106
Held for sale [Member]
Assets:
Fixed maturity securities					6,045								6,045
Equity Securities					149								149
Mortgage and other loans receivable, net					137								137
Other invested assets					2								2
Short-term investments					130								130
Cash					133								133
Accrued investment income					21								21
Premiums and other receivables, net of allowance					351								351
Reinsurance assets, net of allowance					8								8
Deferred policy acquisition costs					471								471
Other assets					273								273
Assets of businesses held for sale					7,720								7,720
Less: Loss Accrual					(521)								(521)
Total assets held for sale					7,199								7,199
Liabilities:
Liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses					402								402
Unearned premiums					297								297
Future policy benefits for life and accident and health insurance contracts					4,579								4,579
Other policyholder funds					378								378
Long-term Debt					0								0
Other Liabilities					450								450
Total liabilities held for sale					$ 6,106								$ 6,106
United Guaranty
Held-for-Sale Classification
Voting interest in subsidiary, Percent					100.00%								100.00%
Total consideration					$ 3,300								$ 3,300
Consideration in cash													2,200
Non-cash consideration received from sale													1,101
Dividend-in-lieu													261
Net income (loss) on sale of properties and divested businesses					697
United Guaranty | Held for sale [Member]
Held-for-Sale Classification
Voting interest in subsidiary, Percent																100.00%
Total consideration					$ 3,300								3,300
Consideration in cash													2,200
Cash consideration retained by buyer													40
Dividend-in-lieu													261
United Guaranty | Held for sale [Member] | Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Held-for-Sale Classification
Non-cash consideration received from sale													$ 1,100
Ascot
Held-for-Sale Classification
Voting interest in subsidiary, Percent				100.00%
Total consideration				$ 1,100
Consideration in cash	$ 244
Net income (loss) on sale of properties and divested businesses				$ 162
Ownership reflecting consideration, Percent				20.00%
AIG Fuji Life Insurance
Held-for-Sale Classification
Net income (loss) on sale of properties and divested businesses		$ (467)
AIG Fuji Life Insurance | Held for sale [Member]
Held-for-Sale Classification
Consideration in cash		$ 346
Certain insurance operations | Held for sale [Member]
Held-for-Sale Classification
Consideration in cash			$ 240