INVESTMENTS (Details - Realized gains and gross realized losses from sales or maturities) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross Realized Gains	$ 1,873	$ 1,577	$ 838
Gross Realized Losses	815	451	142
Aggregate fair value of available for sale securities sold	30,200	28,700	25,300
Net realized capital gains (losses)	1,100	1,100	700
Fixed maturity securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross Realized Gains	801	517	703
Gross Realized Losses	800	423	118
Equity securities available for sale
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross Realized Gains	1,072	1,060	135
Gross Realized Losses	$ 15	$ 28	$ 24

This element represents the aggregate fair value of Available-for-sale securities sold during the reporting period.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesSoldFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the difference between the gross realized gains and losses realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27357-111563

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the gross loss realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

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- Details

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