SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Statement of Operations:
Total net realized capital losses	$ (303)	$ (648)
Total revenues	18,443	17,439
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	1,069	1,106
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	1,347	1,231
Other acquisition and other insurance expenses	2,258	1,968
Total benefits, claims and expenses	13,859	18,749
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax benefit	4,584	(1,310)
Income tax benefit	1,148	(226)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,436	(1,084)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	13	2,585
Net income	3,449	1,501
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG	3,208	1,297
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders	3,208	485
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.70	$ (1.34)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	$ 0.01	$ 1.65
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.70	$ (1.34)
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 1.65
As Previously Reported
Statement of Operations:
Total net realized capital losses		(651)
Total revenues		17,436
Interest credited to policyholder account balances		1,105
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs		1,716
Other acquisition and other insurance expenses		1,551
Total benefits, claims and expenses		18,816
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax benefit		(1,380)
Income tax benefit		(200)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(1,180)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		1,653
Net income		473
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG		269
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders		(543)
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ (1.41)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share		$ 1.06
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ (1.41)
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ 1.06
Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts | Effect of Change
Statement of Operations:
Total net realized capital losses		3
Total revenues		3
Interest credited to policyholder account balances		1
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs		(485)
Other acquisition and other insurance expenses		417
Total benefits, claims and expenses		(67)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax benefit		70
Income tax benefit		(26)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		96
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		932
Net income		1,028
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG		1,028
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders		$ 1,028
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.07
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share		$ 0.59
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.07
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.59