INVESTMENTS (Details - Summary of fair value and gross unrealized losses on available for sale securities aggregated by major investment category and length of time in a continuous unrealized loss position) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	$ 57,397	$ 67,217
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	1,943	3,182
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	13,285	13,595
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	1,197	2,092
Fair Value, Total	70,682	80,812
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	3,140	5,274
Bonds available for sale
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	57,208	66,926
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	1,928	3,158
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	13,285	13,595
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	1,197	2,092
Fair Value, Total	70,493	80,521
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	$ 3,125	5,250
Number of securities in an unrealized loss position | item	11,225
Number of individual securities in continuous unrealized loss position for longer than twelve months | item	1,795
Bonds available for sale | U.S. government and government sponsored entities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	$ 720	483
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	26	9
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	0	1
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	0	0
Fair Value, Total	720	484
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	26	9
Bonds available for sale | Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	5,814	2,382
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	221	87
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	231	268
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	33	17
Fair Value, Total	6,045	2,650
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	254	104
Bonds available for sale | Non-U.S. government
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	3,865	4,327
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	162	203
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	489	832
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	94	159
Fair Value, Total	4,354	5,159
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	256	362
Bonds available for sale | Corporate debt
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	28,184	41,317
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	1,013	2,514
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	6,080	5,428
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	726	1,473
Fair Value, Total	34,264	46,745
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	1,739	3,987
Bonds available for sale | Residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	8,794	7,215
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	252	133
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	4,045	4,318
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	226	278
Fair Value, Total	12,839	11,533
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	478	411
Bonds available for sale | Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	4,469	4,138
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	152	108
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	479	573
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	40	21
Fair Value, Total	4,948	4,711
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	192	129
Bonds available for sale | Collateralized Debt Obligations/Asset-Backed Securities (CDO/ABS)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	5,362	7,064
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	102	104
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,961	2,175
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	78	144
Fair Value, Total	7,323	9,239
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	180	248
Equity securities available for sale
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	189	291
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	15	24
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	0	0
Fair Value, Total	189	291
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	$ 15	24
Number of securities in an unrealized loss position | item	113
Equity securities available for sale | Common Stock
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	$ 125	91
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	12	16
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	0	0
Fair Value, Total	125	91
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	12	16
Equity securities available for sale | Preferred Stock
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	0	0
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	0	0
Fair Value, Total	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	0	0
Equity securities available for sale | Mutual Funds
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, Less than 12 Months	64	200
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 Months	3	8
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	0	0
Fair Value, Total	64	200
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total	$ 3	$ 8