INVESTMENTS (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012 security	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	$ 15,665	$ 37,024
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	609	2,056
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	13,762	14,554
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	2,167	2,955
Fair Value, total	29,427	51,578
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	2,776	5,011
Number of individual fixed maturity securities in continuous unrealized loss position for longer than twelve months	1,957
Fixed maturity securities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Number of individual fixed maturity securities	4,970
Bonds available for sale
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	15,365	36,408
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	571	1,955
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	13,749	14,554
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	2,163	2,955
Fair Value, total	29,114	50,962
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	2,734	4,910
Bonds available for sale | U.S. government and government sponsored entities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	625	142
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	3	1
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	5
Fair Value, total	630	142
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	3	1
Bonds available for sale | Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	627	174
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	5	1
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	338	669
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	55	72
Fair Value, total	965	843
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	60	73
Bonds available for sale | Non-U.S. government
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	1,134	3,992
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	24	67
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	424	424
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	27	35
Fair Value, total	1,558	4,416
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	51	102
Bonds available for sale | Corporate debt
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	8,487	18,099
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	307	937
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	5,901	5,907
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	630	788
Fair Value, total	14,388	24,006
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	937	1,725
Bonds available for sale | Residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	3,098	10,624
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	163	714
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	3,296	4,148
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	552	849
Fair Value, total	6,394	14,772
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	715	1,563
Bonds available for sale | Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	1,083	1,697
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	60	185
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,963	1,724
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	615	788
Fair Value, total	3,046	3,421
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	675	973
Bonds available for sale | Collateralized Debt Obligations/Asset Backed Securities (CDO/ABS)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	311	1,680
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	9	50
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,822	1,682
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	284	423
Fair Value, total	2,133	3,362
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	293	473
Equity securities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Number of equity securities in an unrealized loss position	244
Equity securities available for sale
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	300	616
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	38	101
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	13
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	4
Fair Value, total	313	616
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	42	101
Equity securities available for sale | Common Stock
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	274	608
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	38	100
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	11
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	3
Fair Value, total	285	608
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	41	100
Equity securities available for sale | Preferred Stock
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	2	6
Fair Value, total	2	6
Equity securities available for sale | Mutual Funds
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	24	2
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months		1
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	2
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	1
Fair Value, total	26	2
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	$ 1	$ 1