LENDING ACTIVITIES (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Changes in the allowance for losses on Mortgage and other loans receivable
Allowance at the beginning of the year	$ 878	$ 2,444	$ 1,680
Loans charged off	(125)	(354)	(564)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off	38	8	54
Net charge-offs	(87)	(346)	(510)
Provision for loan losses	4	369	1,010
Other	(55)	(1,531)	468
Reclassified to Assets of businesses held for sale		(58)	(204)
Allowance at the end of the period	740	878	2,444
Commercial mortgages
Changes in the allowance for losses on Mortgage and other loans receivable
Allowance at the beginning of the year	470	432	3
Loans charged off	(78)	(217)	(82)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off	37
Net charge-offs	(41)	(217)	(82)
Provision for loan losses	(69)	342	422
Other	(55)	(34)	89
Reclassified to Assets of businesses held for sale		(53)
Allowance at the end of the period	305	470	432
Allowance related to individually assessed credit losses	65	476
Commercial mortgage loans	110	739
Other Loans
Changes in the allowance for losses on Mortgage and other loans receivable
Allowance at the beginning of the year	408	2,012	1,677
Loans charged off	(47)	(137)	(482)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off	1	8	54
Net charge-offs	(46)	(129)	(428)
Provision for loan losses	73	27	588
Other		(1,497)	379
Reclassified to Assets of businesses held for sale		(5)	(204)
Allowance at the end of the period	$ 435	$ 408	$ 2,012

Reflects the amount reclassified to assets of businesses held for sale in the reserve for credit losses.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesReclassifiedToAssetsOfBusinessesHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the amount of loans and leases that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, net of collections of loans and lease receivables which have previously been fully or partially charged off as bad debts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesWriteOffsNet
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the net amount of other additions and reductions in the reserve for credit losses.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 114

-Paragraph 20

-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 SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 9

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph d

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5212-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdjustmentsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the gross amount charged against earnings during the period as credit losses (bad debt expense) based on review of the loan and lease portfolio and application of the methodology for estimating credit losses.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesProvisionForLossGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects a reduction in bad debt expense attributable to collections of loans and lease receivables which had previously been fully or partially charged off as bad debts.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesRecoveriesOfBadDebts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the amount of loans and leases that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, typically because they are considered to be not salvageable or have been purchased by unconsolidated collection entities.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesWriteOffs
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible that were individually evaluated for impairment.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953423-111524

-Subparagraph (g)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The balance of financing receivables that were individually evaluated for impairment.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The allowance for loan and lease losses represents the reserve to cover probable credit losses related to specifically identified loans and leases, as well as probable credit losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. For banks, include currently required allocated transfer risk reserves. Include carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations determined to be appropriate.

+ References

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

-Publisher OTS

-Name Federal Regulation (FR)

-Number Title 12

-Chapter V

-Section 563c.102

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph a(ii)

-Subsection I

-LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 6

-Section L

-Subsection 1

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 114

-Paragraph 20

-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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 9

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph d

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 8, 9

-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 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)(1)(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant