Schedule II Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only (Details 2) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues:
Change in fair value of ML III										$ (646,000,000)	$ 1,792,000,000	$ 419,000,000
Net realized capital gains (losses)										521,000,000	(175,000,000)	(5,210,000,000)
Other income										0
Expenses
Total interest expense on FRBNY Credit Facility										(70,000,000)	(4,028,000,000)	(10,292,000,000)
Other interest expense										(3,801,000,000)	(3,953,000,000)	(4,066,000,000)
Loss on the extinguishment of debt	484,000,000	484,000,000		(79,000,000)	(3,313,000,000)	(104,000,000)				(2,908,000,000)	(104,000,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)		2,867,000,000	(4,358,000,000)	1,806,000,000	(1,380,000,000)	14,488,000,000	306,000,000	1,501,000,000	1,641,000,000	(1,065,000,000)	17,936,000,000	(14,307,000,000)
Income tax expense (benefit)										(18,036,000,000)	5,859,000,000	(1,489,000,000)
Net income (loss)										16,282,000,000	9,904,000,000	(11,382,000,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		140,000,000	(221,000,000)	(37,000,000)	1,653,000,000	2,037,000,000	(1,833,000,000)	(2,611,000,000)	343,000,000	1,535,000,000	(2,064,000,000)	505,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG		19,798,000,000	(4,109,000,000)	1,840,000,000	269,000,000	11,176,000,000	(2,517,000,000)	(2,656,000,000)	1,783,000,000	17,798,000,000	7,786,000,000	(10,949,000,000)
Parent Company
Revenues:
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries										5,222,000,000	18,040,000,000	(1,477,000,000)
Interest income										596,000,000	3,249,000,000	4,126,000,000
Change in fair value of ML III										(723,000,000)		(1,401,000,000)
Net realized capital gains (losses)										213,000,000	(209,000,000)	(54,000,000)
Other income										279,000,000	6,000,000	94,000,000
Expenses
Accrued and compounding interest										(24,000,000)	(636,000,000)	(2,022,000,000)
Amortization of prepaid commitment asset										(48,000,000)	(3,471,000,000)	(8,359,000,000)
Total interest expense on FRBNY Credit Facility										(72,000,000)	(4,107,000,000)	(10,381,000,000)
Other interest expense										(2,845,000,000)	(2,279,000,000)	(2,496,000,000)
Restructuring expense and related asset impairment and other expenses										(36,000,000)	(451,000,000)	(407,000,000)
Loss on the extinguishment of debt										(2,847,000,000)	(104,000,000)
Other expenses										(831,000,000)	(1,213,000,000)	(1,230,000,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)										(1,044,000,000)	12,932,000,000	(13,226,000,000)
Income tax expense (benefit)										(17,909,000,000)	5,144,000,000	(2,277,000,000)
Net income (loss)										16,865,000,000	7,788,000,000	(10,949,000,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations										933,000,000	(2,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG										$ 17,798,000,000	$ 7,786,000,000	$ (10,949,000,000)