HELD-FOR-SALE CLASSIFICATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions			3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 14, 2016	Oct. 18, 2016	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	Dec. 31, 2014
Held-for-Sale Classification
Net income (loss) on sale of divested businesses			$ (241)	$ 13	$ 60	$ 100	$ (194)	$ (128)	$ (225)	$ 2	$ 68	$ 545	$ (11)
Assets:
Mortgage and other loans receivable, net			37,023				33,240				37,023	33,240
Other invested assets			20,822				24,538				20,822	24,538
Short-term investments			10,386				12,302				10,386	12,302
Cash			2,362				1,868				2,362	1,868	1,629	$ 1,758
Accrued investment income			2,356				2,495				2,356	2,495
Premiums and other receivables, net of allowance			10,248				10,465				10,248	10,465
Reinsurance assets, net of allowance			33,024				21,901				33,024	21,901
Deferred policy acquisition costs			10,994				11,042				10,994	11,042	11,115	9,828
Other assets			10,194				10,815				10,194	10,815
Total assets held for sale			0				7,199				0	7,199
Liabilities:
Liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses			78,393				77,077				78,393	77,077	74,942	$ 77,260
Unearned premiums			19,030				19,634				19,030	19,634
Future policy benefits for life and accident and health insurance contracts			45,432				42,204				45,432	42,204
Other policyholder funds			3,648				3,989				3,648	3,989
Long-term Debt			31,640				30,912				31,640	30,912
Other Liabilities			26,050				26,296				26,050	26,296
Total liabilities held for sale			$ 0				6,106				0	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 Asia
Held-for-Sale Classification
Voting interest in subsidiary, Percent							100.00%					100.00%
Total consideration							$ 3,300					$ 3,300
Consideration in cash				40								2,200
Non-cash consideration received from sale											$ 0	1,101	$ 0
Cash consideration retained by buyer												40
Dividend-in-lieu												261
Net income (loss) on sale of divested businesses												$ 697
Certain insurance operations
Held-for-Sale Classification
Consideration in cash		$ 234		$ 168	$ 48
AIG Fuji Life Insurance
Held-for-Sale Classification
Consideration in cash	$ 333
Net income (loss) on sale of divested businesses	$ (591)