EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Pensions
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$ 52	$ 53	$ 102	$ 112
Interest cost	59	60	117	123
Expected return on assets	(65)	(69)	(130)	(139)
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost	(10)	1	(19)	(1)
Amortization of net (gain) loss	32	13	65	30
Net periodic benefit cost	68	58	135	125
Contributed to pension plans			47
Estimates additional contribution to pension plans for the remainder of 2012	44		44
Pensions | AIG Star and AIG Edison
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Net periodic benefit cost		1		11
Non U.S. Pension Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	13	16	26	38
Interest cost	9	8	17	19
Expected return on assets	(5)	(6)	(10)	(13)
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost	(1)		(2)	(2)
Amortization of net (gain) loss	3	3	7	9
Net periodic benefit cost	19	21	38	51
Non U.S. Pension Plans | AIG Star and AIG Edison
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Net periodic benefit cost		1		11
U.S. Pension Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	39	37	76	74
Interest cost	50	52	100	104
Expected return on assets	(60)	(63)	(120)	(126)
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost	(9)	1	(17)	1
Amortization of net (gain) loss	29	10	58	21
Net periodic benefit cost	49	37	97	74
Postretirement Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	2	3	4	6
Interest cost	3	3	6	8
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost	(2)	1	(5)	1
Net periodic benefit cost	3	7	5	15
Postretirement Plans | AIG Star and AIG Edison
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Net periodic benefit cost				1
Non U.S. Postretirement Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost		1	1	2
Interest cost	1		1	1
Net periodic benefit cost	1	1	2	3
Non U.S. Postretirement Plans | AIG Star and AIG Edison
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Net periodic benefit cost				1
U.S. Postretirement Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	2	2	3	4
Interest cost	2	3	5	7
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost	(2)	1	(5)	1
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 2	$ 6	$ 3	$ 12