Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical - assets and liabilities) (USD $) In Millions	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets:
Bonds available for sale, amortized cost	$ 246,390	$ 220,669
Common and preferred stock available for sale, cost	1,790	2,571
Mortgage and other loans receivable net of allowance, portion measured at fair value	104	143
Other invested assets, portion measured at fair value	20,631	21,356
Short-term investments, portion measured at fair value	7,536	23,860
Other assets, restricted cash	3,824	30,232
Other assets, portion measured at fair value	0	14
Liabilities:
Policyholder contract deposits, portion measured at fair value	1,362	445
Other liabilities, portion measured at fair value	1,268	2,619
Other long-term debt, portion measured at fair value	$ 11,239	$ 12,143

This item represents the total of all bonds securities, at cost, net of adjustments made for accretion, amortization, other-than-temporary impairments, and hedging, if any, which are classified neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cost as of the balance sheet date of all equity securities which are classified neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ Details

Name:	aig_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecuritiesCost
Namespace Prefix:	aig
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity. The fair value of investments not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	aig_InvestedAssetsOtherFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	aig
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity. The fair value of other investments not otherwise specified in the taxonomy that will be realized in a short period of time, usually less than one year or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer.

+ Details

Name:	aig_OtherShortTermInvestmentsFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	aig
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity. The fair value of the liability as of the balance sheet date to the policyholders for deposits held under the terms of insurance contracts.

+ Details

Name:	aig_PolicyholderContractDepositsAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	aig
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Company (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date(s).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph b

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This element represents the fair value of assets categorized as other which are not in and of themselves material enough to require separate disclosure.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This element represents the fair value of liabilities categorized as other which are not in and of themselves material enough to require separate disclosure.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-BRD

-Chapter 4

-Paragraph 80

-Subparagraph Exhibit 4-8, 3

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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