SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	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 segment	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment results
Number of reportable segments									3
Total revenues	$ 17,409	$ 12,716	$ 16,676	$ 17,436	$ 21,202	$ 19,455	$ 18,314	$ 18,555	$ 64,237	$ 77,526	$ 75,447
Other-than-temporary impairment charges									1,280	3,039	6,696
Net (gain) loss on sale of properties and divested businesses	(2)	2	2	72	(17,641)	(4)	(198)	76	74	(17,767)	1,271
Interest expense									3,871	7,981	14,358
Depreciation and amortization									9,883	11,320	12,074
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations	2,867	(4,358)	1,806	(1,380)	14,488	306	1,501	1,641	(1,065)	17,936	(14,307)
Capital expenditures									1,568	1,156	3,705
Year-end identifiable assets	555,773				683,443				555,773	683,443	847,585
Claims and claims adjustment expenses incurred									37,895	45,874	50,015
Amortization of prepaid commitment asset					(705)	(762)	(76)	(162)
Chartis
Segment results
Number of operating segments		2
Total revenues									40,702	37,196	35,023
Other-than-temporary impairment charges									274	577	903
Net (gain) loss on sale of properties and divested businesses										(669)
Interest expense									7	1
Depreciation and amortization									6,831	7,256	7,005
Number of operating segments prior to reorganization									2
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									1,698	(116)	164
Capital expenditures									234	213	191
Year-end identifiable assets	178,959				172,708				178,959	172,708	154,733
Claims and claims adjustment expenses incurred									27,949	27,867	25,362
Commercial Insurance
Segment results
Total revenues									25,544	24,820	26,989
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									744	67	2,411
Claims and claims adjustment expenses incurred									18,953	19,001	18,920
Underwriting expenses									5,847	5,752	5,658
Consumer Insurance
Segment results
Total revenues									13,678	11,260	9,406
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									24	403	401
Claims and claims adjustment expenses incurred									8,797	6,686	5,315
Underwriting expenses									4,857	4,171	3,690
Other
Segment results
Total revenues									1,480	1,116	(1,372)
Net (gain) loss on sale of properties and divested businesses										(669)
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									930	(586)	(2,648)
Claims and claims adjustment expenses incurred									199	2,180	1,127
Underwriting expenses									268	191	149
Total Chartis Operating Segments
Segment results
Total revenues									40,702	37,196	35,023
Net (gain) loss on sale of properties and divested businesses										(669)
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									1,698	(116)	164
Claims and claims adjustment expenses incurred									27,949	27,867	25,362
Underwriting expenses									10,972	10,114	9,497
SunAmerica Financial Group
Segment results
Number of operating segments									2
Total revenues									15,315	14,747	11,366
Other-than-temporary impairment charges									977	1,958	3,821
Depreciation and amortization									1,062	899	1,140
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									2,910	2,712	(1,179)
Capital expenditures									75	57	52
Year-end identifiable assets	268,835				260,947				268,835	260,947	245,607
Claims and claims adjustment expenses incurred									9,110	8,749	9,097
SunAmerica Financial Group | Insurance-oriented products
Segment results
Total revenues									5,813	5,992	5,349
SunAmerica Financial Group | Retirement savings products
Segment results
Total revenues									8,475	8,485	5,604
SunAmerica Financial Group | Asset management revenues
Segment results
Total revenues									1,027	270	413
Total SunAmerica Operating Segments
Segment results
Total revenues									15,315	14,747	11,366
Depreciation and amortization									1,062	899	1,140
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									2,910	2,712	(1,179)
Capital expenditures									75	57	52
Year-end identifiable assets	289,051				281,335				289,051	281,335	266,036
Total SunAmerica Operating Segments | Insurance-oriented products
Segment results
Total revenues									5,813	5,992	5,349
Total SunAmerica Operating Segments | Retirement savings products
Segment results
Total revenues									8,475	8,485	5,604
Total SunAmerica Operating Segments | Asset management revenues
Segment results
Total revenues									1,027	270	413
Domestic Life Insurance
Segment results
Total revenues									8,282	8,334	7,359
Depreciation and amortization									456	629	534
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									1,404	1,394	619
Capital expenditures									42	28	17
Year-end identifiable assets	110,694				105,580				110,694	105,580	100,600
Domestic Life Insurance | Insurance-oriented products
Segment results
Total revenues									5,813	5,992	5,349
Domestic Life Insurance | Retirement savings products
Segment results
Total revenues									2,469	2,335	1,993
Domestic Life Insurance | Asset management revenues
Segment results
Total revenues										7	17
Domestic Retirement Services
Segment results
Total revenues									7,033	6,413	4,007
Depreciation and amortization									606	270	606
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									1,506	1,318	(1,798)
Capital expenditures									33	29	35
Year-end identifiable assets	178,357				175,755				178,357	175,755	165,436
Domestic Retirement Services | Retirement savings products
Segment results
Total revenues									6,006	6,150	3,611
Domestic Retirement Services | Asset management revenues
Segment results
Total revenues									1,027	263	396
SunAmerica, consolidation and eliminations
Segment results
Year-end identifiable assets	(20,216)				(20,388)				(20,216)	(20,388)	(20,429)
Aircraft Leasing
Segment results
Total revenues									4,457	4,718	4,992
Interest expense									1,427	1,397	1,222
Depreciation and amortization									1,948	2,035	2,022
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									(1,005)	(729)	1,385
Capital expenditures									604	266	2,587
Year-end identifiable assets	39,038				43,158				39,038	43,158	45,992
Other Operations
Segment results
Total revenues									4,079	21,405	25,264
Other-than-temporary impairment charges									29	504	1,972
Net (gain) loss on sale of properties and divested businesses									74	(17,098)	1,271
Interest expense									2,490	6,881	13,305
Depreciation and amortization									42	1,130	1,907
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									(4,699)	15,893	(14,193)
Capital expenditures									655	620	875
Year-end identifiable assets	186,002				315,206				186,002	315,206	495,054
Claims and claims adjustment expenses incurred									2	39	43
Amortization of prepaid commitment asset										3,500	8,400
Mortgage Guaranty
Segment results
Total revenues									944	1,168	1,183
Depreciation and amortization									53	77	94
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									(73)	373	(1,688)
Capital expenditures									37	10	5
Year-end identifiable assets	5,406				6,073				5,406	6,073	7,816
Global Capital Markets
Segment results
Total revenues									266	532	1,109
Interest expense										3	3
Depreciation and amortization										4	13
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									(7)	193	603
Year-end identifiable assets	12,619				31,038				12,619	31,038	34,047
Direct Investment Book
Segment results
Total revenues									1,004	1,499	1,950
Interest expense									367	382	425
Depreciation and amortization									(218)	(317)	(162)
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									622	1,242	1,506
Year-end identifiable assets	31,162				29,291				31,162	29,291	31,948
Retained Interests
Segment results
Total revenues									486	1,819	419
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									486	1,819	419
Year-end identifiable assets	15,086				23,939				15,086	23,939	4,519
Corporate and Other
Segment results
Total revenues									1,415	2,631	3,058
Net (gain) loss on sale of properties and divested businesses									74	(17,098)	1,271
Interest expense									2,143	6,551	13,267
Depreciation and amortization									207	342	615
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									(5,727)	9,637	(16,831)
Capital expenditures									618	503	652
Year-end identifiable assets	98,999				91,155				98,999	91,155	84,657
Divested Businesses
Segment results
Total revenues										13,811	18,481
Interest expense										4	19
Depreciation and amortization										1,024	1,347
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations										2,540	2,159
Capital expenditures										107	218
Year-end identifiable assets					110,070					110,070	332,128
Other Operations, consolidation and eliminations
Segment results
Total revenues									(36)	(55)	(936)
Interest expense									(20)	(59)	(409)
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations										89	(361)
Year-end identifiable assets	22,730				23,640				22,730	23,640	(61)
Operating Segments
Segment results
Total revenues									64,553	78,066	76,645
Other-than-temporary impairment charges									1,280	3,039	6,696
Net (gain) loss on sale of properties and divested businesses									74	(17,767)	1,271
Interest expense									3,924	8,279	14,527
Depreciation and amortization									9,883	11,320	12,074
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									(1,096)	17,760	(13,823)
Capital expenditures									1,568	1,156	3,705
Year-end identifiable assets	672,834				792,019				672,834	792,019	941,386
Consolidation and Eliminations
Segment results
Total revenues									(316)	(540)	(1,198)
Interest expense									(53)	(298)	(169)
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations									31	176	(484)
Year-end identifiable assets	$ (117,061)				$ (108,576)				$ (117,061)	$ (108,576)	$ (93,801)