INVESTMENTS (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	$ 55,512	$ 12,527
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	3,427	307
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	5,703	8,569
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	704	1,126
Fair Value, total	61,215	21,096
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	4,131	1,433
Fixed maturity securities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Number of individual fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position	6,313
Number of individual securities in continuous unrealized loss position for longer than twelve months	713
Bonds available for sale
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	55,259	12,277
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	3,394	271
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	5,696	8,551
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	702	1,125
Fair Value, total	60,955	20,828
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	4,096	1,396
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	889	153
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	33	1
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	10
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	2
Fair Value, total	899	153
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	35	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	4,623	692
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	298	11
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	88	114
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	20	11
Fair Value, total	4,711	806
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	318	22
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	3,995	1,555
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	273	19
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	159	442
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	24	25
Fair Value, total	4,154	1,997
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	297	44
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	34,380	8,483
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	2,274	201
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	2,247	3,229
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	238	263
Fair Value, total	36,627	11,712
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	2,512	464
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	7,164	597
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	272	28
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,048	1,661
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	173	289
Fair Value, total	8,212	2,258
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	445	317
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	2,517	404
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	209	8
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,106	1,481
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	138	296
Fair Value, total	3,623	1,885
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	347	304
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	1,691	393
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	35	3
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,038	1,624
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	107	241
Fair Value, total	2,729	2,017
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	142	244
Equity securities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Number of equity securities in an unrealized loss position	125
Equity securities available for sale
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	253	250
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	33	36
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	7	18
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	2	1
Fair Value, total	260	268
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	35	37
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	116	247
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	22	36
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	7	18
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	2	1
Fair Value, total	123	265
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	24	37
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	5
Fair Value, total	5
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	132	3
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	11
Fair Value, total	132	3
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	$ 11