SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 9) (USD $)			1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2009 Total AIG Shareholders' Equity New Accounting Pronouncement - Other-than-temporary Impairments	Apr. 30, 2009 Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) New Accounting Pronouncement - Other-than-temporary Impairments	Apr. 30, 2009 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) New Accounting Pronouncement - Other-than-temporary Impairments	Jan. 02, 2009 Increases (decreases) from previously reported amounts New Accounting Pronouncement - Instrument or Embedded Feature Indexed to Stock	Apr. 02, 2009 Increases (decreases) from previously reported amounts New Accounting Pronouncement - Other-than-temporary Impairments
Components of the change in AIG shareholders equity due to the adoption of the new accounting standard for other-than-temporary impairments
Net effect of the increase in amortized cost of available for sale fixed maturity securities				$ 16,100,000,000	$ (16,100,000,000)
Net effect of related DAC, SIA and other insurance balances				(1,800,000,000)	1,800,000,000
Net effect of deferred income tax assets			2,500,000,000	(2,500,000,000)	5,000,000,000
Increase in the amortized cost of fixed maturity securities due to cumulative effect adjustment			2,500,000,000	11,800,000,000	(9,300,000,000)
Change in accounting
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	14,332,000,000	(3,466,000,000)				15,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	81,787,000,000	9,683,000,000				(91,000,000)
Amortized cost of fixed maturity securities							$ 16,100,000,000