Represents the amount outstanding under standby letter of credit at end of period.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Represents the required amount of escrow deposits at the end of the escrow period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_EscrowBalanceAtTerminationOfEscrowPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of the deductible for a guarantee obligation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_GuaranteeObligationsExposure
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the term of the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_GuaranteeObligationsPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The value of payments made or placed in escrow at end of period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_LossContingencyPaymentsAtEndOfPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

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

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES (Details 3)	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES (Details 3)	Mar. 31, 2012 MetLife Inc. (MetLife) USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 Standby letters of credit USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2010 Indemnification related to breaches of general representations and warranties MetLife Inc. (MetLife) M	Mar. 31, 2012 Indemnification related to breaches of general representations and warranties MetLife Inc. (MetLife) USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 Indemnification related to breaches of general representations and warranties AIG Star and AIG Edison USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 Indemnification related to breaches of general representations and warranties AIG Star and AIG Edison JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2012 Other indemnification USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 Tax indemnification MetLife Inc. (MetLife) USD ($)
Guarantees
Amount outstanding under standby letters of credit at end of period		$ 437,000,000
Aggregate deductible amount under guarantee				125,000,000			0	50,000,000
Maximum amount exposed under guarantee				2,250,000,000	1,200,000,000	102,000,000,000		200,000,000
Period of guarantee (in months)			21
Payments made or placed in escrow accounts at end of period	1,600,000,000
Amount required to be held in escrow	0
Minimum amount exposed under guarantee					$ 49,500,000	¥ 4,100,000,000