SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 segment	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 Commercial Insurance	Jun. 30, 2012 Commercial Insurance	Jun. 30, 2013 Commercial Insurance	Jun. 30, 2012 Commercial Insurance	Jun. 30, 2013 Consumer Insurance	Jun. 30, 2012 Consumer Insurance	Jun. 30, 2013 Consumer Insurance	Jun. 30, 2012 Consumer Insurance	Jun. 30, 2013 Other	Jun. 30, 2012 Other	Jun. 30, 2013 Other	Jun. 30, 2012 Other	Jun. 30, 2013 Total AIG Property Casualty	Jun. 30, 2012 Total AIG Property Casualty	Jun. 30, 2013 Total AIG Property Casualty	Jun. 30, 2012 Total AIG Property Casualty	Mar. 31, 2013 AIG Life and Retirement segment	Dec. 31, 2012 AIG Life and Retirement segment	Jun. 30, 2013 Retail	Jun. 30, 2012 Retail	Jun. 30, 2013 Retail	Jun. 30, 2012 Retail	Jun. 30, 2013 Institutional	Jun. 30, 2012 Institutional	Jun. 30, 2013 Institutional	Jun. 30, 2012 Institutional	Jun. 30, 2013 Total AIG Life and Retirement	Jun. 30, 2012 Total AIG Life and Retirement	Jun. 30, 2013 Total AIG Life and Retirement	Jun. 30, 2012 Total AIG Life and Retirement	Jun. 30, 2013 Other Operations	Jun. 30, 2012 Other Operations	Jun. 30, 2013 Other Operations	Jun. 30, 2012 Other Operations	Jun. 30, 2013 Mortgage Guaranty	Jun. 30, 2012 Mortgage Guaranty	Jun. 30, 2013 Mortgage Guaranty	Jun. 30, 2012 Mortgage Guaranty	Jun. 30, 2013 Global Capital Markets	Jun. 30, 2012 Global Capital Markets	Jun. 30, 2013 Global Capital Markets	Jun. 30, 2012 Global Capital Markets	Jun. 30, 2013 Direct Investment Book	Jun. 30, 2012 Direct Investment Book	Jun. 30, 2013 Direct Investment Book	Jun. 30, 2012 Direct Investment Book	Jun. 30, 2012 Retained Interests	Jun. 30, 2012 Retained Interests	Jun. 30, 2013 Corporate and Other	Jun. 30, 2012 Corporate and Other	Jun. 30, 2013 Corporate and Other	Jun. 30, 2012 Corporate and Other	Jun. 30, 2013 Other Operations, consolidation and eliminations	Jun. 30, 2012 Other Operations, consolidation and eliminations	Jun. 30, 2013 Other Operations, consolidation and eliminations	Jun. 30, 2012 Other Operations, consolidation and eliminations	Jun. 30, 2013 Consolidation and Eliminations	Jun. 30, 2012 Consolidation and Eliminations	Jun. 30, 2013 Consolidation and Eliminations	Jun. 30, 2012 Consolidation and Eliminations
Segment results
Number of reportable segments			2
Number of operating segments																					2	2
Total revenues	$ 17,315	$ 16,221	$ 33,203	$ 33,718	$ 5,696	$ 6,051	$ 11,469	$ 11,944	$ 3,347	$ 3,564	$ 6,853	$ 7,176	$ 723	$ 405	$ 1,403	$ 698	$ 9,766	$ 10,020	$ 19,725	$ 19,818			$ 3,439	$ 2,501	$ 6,442	$ 4,900	$ 2,609	$ 1,927	$ 4,346	$ 3,430	$ 6,048	$ 4,428	$ 10,788	$ 8,330	$ 1,691	$ 1,869	$ 2,999	$ 5,872	$ 243	$ 224	$ 474	$ 424	$ 232	$ 10	$ 505	$ 170	$ 815	$ 584	$ 1,226	$ 928	$ 813	$ 3,860	$ 411	$ 251	$ 813	$ 513	$ (10)	$ (13)	$ (19)	$ (23)	$ (190)	$ (96)	$ (309)	$ (302)
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 3,147	$ 1,669	$ 5,979	$ 6,135	$ 535	$ 745	$ 1,576	$ 1,390	$ 91	$ 192	$ 244	$ 426	$ 542	$ 24	$ 952	$ 55	$ 1,168	$ 961	$ 2,772	$ 1,871			$ 1,177	$ 341	$ 2,173	$ 825	$ 542	$ 436	$ 1,116	$ 814	$ 1,719	$ 777	$ 3,289	$ 1,639	$ 270	$ (116)	$ (144)	$ 2,620	$ 75	$ 48	$ 119	$ 56	$ 175	$ (25)	$ 402	$ 63	$ 720	$ 485	$ 1,032	$ 733	$ 813	$ 3,860	$ (701)	$ (1,435)	$ (1,699)	$ (2,093)	$ 1	$ (2)	$ 2	$ 1	$ (10)	$ 47	$ 62	$ 5