SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 2) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Other invested assets
Equity method investment percentage used to determine accounting treatment	5.00%
Fair value of repurchase agreements accounted for as collateralized borrowing transactions	$ 563,000,000
Fair value of reverse repurchase agreements accounted for as collateralized lending transactions	7,000,000,000
Premiums and other receivables
Allowance for doubtful accounts on premiums and other receivables	484,000,000	515,000,000
Allowance for doubtful accounts on reinsurance assets	365,000,000	492,000,000
Minimum [Member]
Other invested assets
Investee's reporting period prior to the end of entity's reporting period (in months)	1
Maximum [Member]
Other invested assets
Investee's reporting period prior to the end of entity's reporting period (in months)	3
AIA Group Limited (AIA)
Other invested assets
Percentage of equity method investments which is accounted under fair value option	33.00%
Fair value of securities collateral received by AIG	6,800,000,000
Securities repledged by AIG	$ 122,000,000

Represents the valuation allowance for doubtful accounts on reinsurance assets as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of collateral obtained by the entity against the securities purchased under agreement to resell.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_CollateralReceivedAgainstSecuritiesPurchasedUnderAgreementsToResell
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the investee's reporting period prior to the end of the entity's reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_InvesteeReportingPeriodPriorToEndOfEntityReportingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the fair value of the securities sold under the agreement to repurchase agreements accounted for as collateralized lending or borrowing transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseAccountedForAsCollateralizedLendingOrBorrowingTransactionFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the fair value of the securities sold under the agreement to reverse repurchase agreements accounted for as collateralized lending or borrowing transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToReverseRepurchaseAccountedForAsCollateralizedLendingOrBorrowingTransactionFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The valuation allowance as of the balance sheet date to reduce the gross amount of receivables to estimated net realizable value, which would be presented in parentheses on the face of the balance sheet.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 7

-Section 03

-Paragraph 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5074-111524

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),5)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 18

-Subparagraph f

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 20

-Subparagraph a (1)

-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 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of the collateral, or portion thereof, that has been re-pledged, delivered, or otherwise used (generally under repurchase agreements, securities lending agreements or to cover short sales).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 860

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6862952&loc=SL6224234-111729

+ Details

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

- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Period Type:	duration