Name:	aig_EquityMethodInvestmentAccountedUnderFairValueOptionOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the upper limit of ownership percentage of strategic investments with undistributed earnings.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageUpperLimitUndistributedEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in an equity method investee.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_EquityMethodInvestmentsCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the percentage ownership which the entity considers in determining the accounting for equity method investments.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_EquityMethodInvestmentsThresholdForDeterminationPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	aig_OtherInvestedAssetsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the undistributed earnings of other strategic investments in which entity's ownership interest is less than 50 percent.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_UndistributedEarningsHoldingLessThanFiftyPercentOwnership
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Income derived from investments in equity securities representing a distribution of earnings to shareholders by the investee companies.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 14

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688