INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH OUTSTANDING DEBT (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Assets:
Short-term investments	$ 22,572	$ 43,738
Other investments	387,866	366,674
Total investments	410,438	410,412
Cash	1,474	1,558	4,400	8,642
Debt issuance costs including prepaid commitment fee asset of $3,628 in 2010	493	4,079
Other assets, including current and deferred income taxes	143,368	159,941
Assets held for sale		107,453
Total assets	555,773	683,443	847,585
Liabilities:
Insurance liabilities	282,516	274,353
Federal Reserve Bank of New York credit facility		20,985
Other long-term debt	75,253	85,476
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	83,675	91,644
Liabilities held for sale		97,312
Total liabilities	441,444	569,770
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (see Note 1):
Nonvoting, callable, junior preferred interests held by Department of the Treasury	8,427
Other	96	434
Total redeemable noncontrolling interests	8,523	434
Redeemable noncontrolling nonvoting, callable, junior preferred interests		434
Total AIG shareholders' equity	104,951	85,319
Noncontrolling interests:
Nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests held by Federal Reserve Bank of New York		26,358
Other	855	1,562
Total non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	855	27,920
Total equity	105,806	113,239	98,076	60,805
Total liabilities and equity	555,773	683,443
AIG
Assets:
Short-term investments	12,868	5,602
Other investments	6,599	5,852
Total investments	19,467	11,454
Cash	176	49	57	103
Loans to subsidiaries	39,971	61,630
Debt issuance costs including prepaid commitment fee asset of $3,628 in 2010	196	3,838
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	83,215	93,511
Other assets, including current and deferred income taxes	24,317	7,852
Total assets	167,342	178,334
Liabilities:
Federal Reserve Bank of New York credit facility		20,985
Other long-term debt	35,906	40,443
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	14,169	31,586
Loans from subsidiaries	12,316	1
Total liabilities	62,391	93,015
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (see Note 1):
Total AIG shareholders' equity	104,951	85,319
Noncontrolling interests:
Total equity	104,951	85,319
Total liabilities and equity	167,342	178,334
Intercompany tax payable	9,801	28,083
Intercompany derivative liabilities	901	150
SAFG, Inc.
Assets:
Cash	13		2
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	34,338	33,354
Other assets, including current and deferred income taxes	2,704	2,717
Total assets	37,055	36,071
Liabilities:
Other long-term debt	1,638	1,637
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	3,094	4,414
Loans from subsidiaries	249	379
Total liabilities	4,981	6,430
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (see Note 1):
Total AIG shareholders' equity	32,074	29,641
Noncontrolling interests:
Total equity	32,074	29,641
Total liabilities and equity	37,055	36,071
Intercompany tax receivable	128	152
Other Subsidiaries
Assets:
Short-term investments	14,110	39,907
Other investments	481,525	486,494
Total investments	495,635	526,401
Cash	1,285	1,509
Loans to subsidiaries	(39,971)	(61,630)
Debt issuance costs including prepaid commitment fee asset of $3,628 in 2010	297	241
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	(11,600)	(6,788)
Other assets, including current and deferred income taxes	120,644	150,157
Assets held for sale		107,453
Total assets	566,290	717,343
Liabilities:
Insurance liabilities	282,790	274,590
Other long-term debt	138,240	167,532
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	75,132	59,354
Loans from subsidiaries	(12,565)	(380)
Liabilities held for sale		97,300
Total liabilities	483,597	598,396
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (see Note 1):
Other	29
Total redeemable noncontrolling interests	29
Redeemable noncontrolling nonvoting, callable, junior preferred interests		207
Total AIG shareholders' equity	82,272	117,641
Noncontrolling interests:
Other	392	1,099
Total non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	392	1,099
Total equity	82,664	118,740
Total liabilities and equity	566,290	717,343
Reclassifications and Eliminations
Assets:
Short-term investments	(4,406)	(1,771)
Other investments	(100,258)	(125,672)
Total investments	(104,664)	(127,443)
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	(105,953)	(120,077)
Other assets, including current and deferred income taxes	(4,297)	(785)
Total assets	(214,914)	(248,305)
Liabilities:
Insurance liabilities	(274)	(237)
Other long-term debt	(100,531)	(124,136)
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	(8,720)	(3,710)
Liabilities held for sale		12
Total liabilities	(109,525)	(128,071)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (see Note 1):
Nonvoting, callable, junior preferred interests held by Department of the Treasury	8,427
Other	67
Total redeemable noncontrolling interests	8,494
Redeemable noncontrolling nonvoting, callable, junior preferred interests		227
Total AIG shareholders' equity	(114,346)	(147,282)
Noncontrolling interests:
Nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests held by Federal Reserve Bank of New York		26,358
Other	463	463
Total non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	463	26,821
Total equity	(113,883)	(120,461)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (214,914)	$ (248,305)