TOTAL EQUITY AND EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE (Details 6) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Numerator for EPS:
Income from continuing operations	$ 2,344,000,000	$ 2,090,000,000	$ 5,780,000,000	$ 1,006,000,000
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests		141,000,000	208,000,000	393,000,000
Other	7,000,000	64,000,000	40,000,000	9,000,000
Total net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	7,000,000	205,000,000	248,000,000	402,000,000
Net income attributable to AIG from continuing operations	2,337,000,000	1,885,000,000	5,532,000,000	604,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(5,000,000)	(37,000,000)	8,000,000	2,548,000,000
Net income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		12,000,000		19,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG from discontinued operations, applicable to common stock for EPS	(5,000,000)	(49,000,000)	8,000,000	2,529,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders from continuing operations, applicable to common stock for EPS	2,337,000,000	1,885,000,000	5,532,000,000	(208,000,000)
Denominator for EPS:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	1,756,689,067	1,836,713,069	1,816,331,019	1,698,001,301
Dilutive shares	25,408	58,444	27,606
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	1,756,714,475	1,836,771,513	1,816,358,625	1,698,001,301
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.33	$ 1.03	$ 3.05	$ (0.12)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.03)		$ 1.49
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.33	$ 1.03	$ 3.05	$ (0.12)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.03)		$ 1.49
Number of shares and warrants excluded from diluted shares outstanding because the effect would have been anti-dilutive	78,000,000	80,000,000	78,000,000	72,000,000
Common stock included in consideration transferred to the Department of the Treasury (in shares)	1,092,169,866		1,092,169,866
Redeemable SPV Preferred Interests included in consideration transferred to the Department of the Treasury	20,200,000,000		20,200,000,000
Warrants to purchase AIG Common Stock
Diluted:
Number of shares and warrants excluded from diluted shares outstanding because the effect would have been anti-dilutive	75,000,000	75,000,000	75,000,000	67,000,000
Series C
Diluted:
Exchange of preferred stock for common stock in connection with recapitalization (in shares)	562,868,096		562,868,096
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 5.00		$ 5.00
Series E
Diluted:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 5.00		$ 5.00
Series F
Diluted:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 5.00		$ 5.00
Series E and F
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Deemed dividend to AIG Preferred Stock				$ (812,000,000)