DERIVATIVES AND HEDGE ACCOUNTING (Details 2) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Notional amounts and fair values of AIG's derivative instruments:
Derivative Assets, Notional Amount	$ 103,500,000,000	$ 106,089,000,000
Derivative Assets, Fair Value	8,460,000,000	9,660,000,000
Derivative Liabilities, Notional Amount	121,001,000,000	125,062,000,000
Derivative Liabilities, Fair Value	11,641,000,000	12,097,000,000
Derivative assets, Counterparty netting	(3,716,000,000)	(3,660,000,000)
Derivative assets, Cash collateral	(991,000,000)	(1,501,000,000)
Total derivative assets, net	3,753,000,000	4,499,000,000
Derivative liabilities, Counterparty netting	(3,716,000,000)	(3,660,000,000)
Derivative liabilities, Cash collateral	(2,599,000,000)	(2,786,000,000)
Total derivative liabilities, net	5,326,000,000	5,651,000,000
Less: Bifurcated embedded derivative liabilities, fair value	1,188,000,000	918,000,000
Total derivative assets on consolidated balance sheet	3,753,000,000	4,499,000,000
Total derivative liabilities on consolidated balance sheet	4,138,000,000	4,733,000,000
Collateral
Collateral posted to third parties for derivative transactions	5,000,000,000	4,700,000,000
Collateral obtained from third parties for derivative transactions	1,100,000,000	1,600,000,000
Global Capital Markets derivatives
Notional amounts and fair values of AIG's derivative instruments:
Derivative Assets, Notional Amount	91,350,000,000	94,036,000,000
Derivative Assets, Fair Value	7,396,000,000	8,472,000,000
Derivative Liabilities, Notional Amount	93,518,000,000	98,442,000,000
Derivative Liabilities, Fair Value	9,300,000,000	10,021,000,000
All other derivatives
Notional amounts and fair values of AIG's derivative instruments:
Derivative Assets, Notional Amount	12,150,000,000	12,053,000,000
Derivative Assets, Fair Value	1,064,000,000	1,188,000,000
Derivative Liabilities, Notional Amount	27,483,000,000	26,620,000,000
Derivative Liabilities, Fair Value	$ 2,341,000,000	$ 2,076,000,000