EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Numerator for EPS:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations									$ (6,060)	$ (259)	$ 2,222
Less:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ (12)	$ 26	$ (12)	$ 26	$ 535	$ (26)	$ 11	$ (20)	28	500	26
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders from continuing operations									(6,088)	(759)	2,196
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense	$ (3)	$ (1)	$ 8	$ 0	$ (36)	$ 3	$ (10)	$ (47)	4	(90)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders									$ (6,084)	$ (849)	$ 2,196
Denominator for EPS:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	908,115,499	908,667,044	925,751,084	980,777,243	1,023,886,592	1,071,295,892	1,113,587,927	1,156,548,459	930,561,286	1,091,085,131	1,299,825,350
Dilutive shares									0	0	34,639,533
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	908,115,499	908,667,044	948,248,771	1,005,315,030	1,023,886,592	1,102,400,770	1,140,045,973	1,156,548,459	930,561,286	1,091,085,131	1,334,464,883
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ (7.33)	$ (1.91)	$ 1.21	$ 1.21	$ (2.93)	$ 0.43	$ 1.73	$ (0.12)	$ (6.54)	$ (0.7)	$ 1.69
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0	0.01	0	(0.03)	0	(0.01)	(0.04)	0	(0.08)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG									(6.54)	(0.78)	1.69
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(7.33)	(1.91)	1.18	1.18	(2.93)	0.42	1.69	(0.12)	(6.54)	(0.7)	1.65
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.01	$ 0	$ (0.03)	$ 0	$ (0.01)	$ (0.04)	0	(0.08)	0
Net Income (loss) attributable to AIG									$ (6.54)	$ (0.78)	$ 1.65
Number of shares, warrants, and options excluded from diluted shares outstanding because the effect would have been anti-dilutive									1,700,000	200,000	200,000
Dilutive Shares Excluded From Computation Of Diluted Earnings Per Share									22,412,682	30,326,772