Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 state country criteria segment	Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments			3
Segment results
Total revenues	$ 12,716	$ 19,455	$ 46,828	$ 56,324
Pre-tax income (loss)	(4,358)	306	(3,932)	3,448
Chartis
Segment results
Number of operating segments prior to reorganization			2
Number of operating segments			2
Total revenues	10,182	9,397	30,273	27,482
Pre-tax income (loss)	498	865	910	3,226
Chartis | Commercial Insurance
Segment results
Total revenues	5,708	5,427	16,819	16,174
Pre-tax income (loss)	(474)	65	(1,869)	(173)
Chartis | Consumer Insurance
Segment results
Total revenues	3,322	3,148	9,849	7,730
Pre-tax income (loss)	(45)	147	(415)	156
Chartis | Chartis Other
Segment results
Total revenues	1,152	822	3,605	3,578
Pre-tax income (loss)	1,017	653	3,194	3,243
SunAmerica
Segment results
Total revenues	3,582	3,944	11,317	10,147
Pre-tax income (loss)	309	998	2,024	1,413
SunAmerica | Domestic Life Insurance
Segment results
Total revenues	2,134	2,077	6,242	5,989
Pre-tax income (loss)	474	343	1,186	854
SunAmerica | Domestic Retirement Services
Segment results
Total revenues	1,448	1,867	5,075	4,158
Pre-tax income (loss)	(165)	655	838	559
Aircraft Leasing
Segment results
Total revenues	1,117	1,190	3,411	3,579
Pre-tax income (loss)	(1,329)	(214)	(1,122)	(122)
Other Operations
Segment results
Total revenues	(2,433)	4,881	1,864	15,655
Pre-tax income (loss)	(3,943)	(1,568)	(5,853)	(1,121)
Other Operations | Mortgage Guaranty
Segment results
Total revenues	246	252	716	832
Pre-tax income (loss)	(80)	(127)	(66)	214
Other Operations | Global Capital Markets
Segment results
Total revenues	(130)	236	151	149
Pre-tax income (loss)	(187)	145	(66)	(99)
Other Operations | Direct Investment Business
Segment results
Total revenues	159	33	758	806
Pre-tax income (loss)	103	(26)	586	602
Other Operations | Retained Interests
Segment results
Total revenues	(3,246)	301	(743)	1,410
Pre-tax income (loss)	(3,246)	301	(743)	1,410
Other Operations | Corporate & Other
Segment results
Total revenues	561	8	1,030	1,636
Pre-tax income (loss)	(523)	(2,620)	(5,538)	(5,656)
Other Operations | Divested Businesses
Segment results
Total revenues		3,961		10,616
Pre-tax income (loss)		637		2,037
Other Operations | Other Operations, consolidation and eliminations
Segment results
Total revenues	(23)	90	(48)	206
Pre-tax income (loss)	(10)	122	(26)	371
Operating Segments
Segment results
Total revenues	12,448	19,412	46,865	56,863
Pre-tax income (loss)	(4,465)	81	(4,041)	3,396
Consolidation and Eliminations.
Segment results
Total revenues	268	43	(37)	(539)
Pre-tax income (loss)	$ 107	$ 225	$ 109	$ 52