Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,764	$ 743	$ 1,225
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net gain from investment activities	(1,927)	(814)	(1,406)
Purchases of securities	(4,931)	(4,043)	(2,433)
Proceeds from sales of securities	5,373	2,895	3,335
Purchases to cover securities sold, not yet purchased	(5,529)	(3,018)	(4,843)
Proceeds from securities sold, not yet purchased	8,934	1,810	4,032
Changes in receivables and payables relating to securities transactions	927	918	(611)
Impairment	71	12	41
Depreciation and amortization	447	463	441
Other, net	(28)	(62)	(156)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Changes in cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	(2,805)	1,180	595
Accounts receivable, net	(148)	(185)	37
Inventories, net	(190)	(75)	165
Other assets	(46)	(56)	25
Accounts payable	123	140	100
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(40)	133	(182)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,995	41	365
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(481)	(422)	(230)
Purchase of investment in precious metals	(150)	0	0
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(142)	116	0
Proceeds from sale of marketable equity and debt securities	154	4	65
Purchases of marketable equity and debt securities	0	0	(38)
Other, net	5	(9)	(50)
Net cash used in investing activities	(614)	(311)	(253)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital subscriptions received in advance	0	0	7
Capital distributions to non-controlling interests	(2,164)	(566)	(1,163)
Capital contributions by non-controlling interests	250	419	287
Partnership contributions	0	6	0
Partnership distributions	(48)	(85)	(77)
Distributions to non-controlling interests in subsidiary	(20)	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes	0	2,499	0
Proceeds from other borrowings	607	107	352
Repayments of borrowings	(675)	(1,389)	(192)
Other, net	4	(8)	(6)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(2,046)	983	(792)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(22)	(6)	19
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(687)	707	(661)
Net change in cash of assets held for sale	2	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	2,963	2,256	2,917
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	2,278	2,963	2,256
Supplemental information:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	393	293	289
Net cash payments for income taxes	59	35	0
Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities	5	0	3
Investment in precious metals	150	0	0
Redemptions payable to non-controlling interests	0	346	113
Fair value of investment in Tropicana prior to acquisition of controlling interest	0	251	0
LP unit issuance to purchase majority interests in ARI and Viskase	0	310	0
LP unit issuance to settle preferred LP unit redemptions		$ 138