EQUITY ACCOUNTED INVESTMENTS - Schedule Of Changes In Balance Of Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Interest In Other Entities [Abstract]
Balance, beginning of year	$ 24,977	$ 23,216
Additions, net of disposals	5,063	660
Acquisitions through business combinations	231	115
Share of net income	1,213	1,293
Share of other comprehensive income	515	430
Distributions received	(732)	(675)
Foreign exchange	727	(62)
Balance, end of year	$ 31,994	$ 24,977

Interest In Other Entities [Abstract]

No definition available.

Name:	bam_InterestInOtherEntitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	bam_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investment Accounted For Using Equity Method, Acquisitions Through Business Combinations

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bam_InvestmentAccountedForUsingEquityMethodAcquisitionsThroughBusinessCombinations
Namespace Prefix:	bam_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investment Accounted For Using Equity Method, Additions, Net Of Disposals

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bam_InvestmentAccountedForUsingEquityMethodAdditionsNetOfDisposals
Namespace Prefix:	bam_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investment Accounted For Using Equity Method, Distribution Received

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bam_InvestmentAccountedForUsingEquityMethodDistributionReceived
Namespace Prefix:	bam_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investment Accounted For Using Equity Method, Foreign Currency Translation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bam_InvestmentAccountedForUsingEquityMethodForeignCurrencyTranslation
Namespace Prefix:	bam_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of investments accounted for using the equity method. The equity method is a method of accounting whereby the investment is initially recognised at cost and adjusted thereafter for the post-acquisition change in the investor's share of net assets of the investee. The investor's profit or loss includes its share of the profit or loss of the investee. The investor's other comprehensive income includes its share of the other comprehensive income of the investee. [Refer: At cost [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 8
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 24
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=8&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_24_a&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 12
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph B16
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=12&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_B16&doctype=Appendix&seq=2
-URIDate 2017-03-09

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 54
-Subparagraph e
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_54_e&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_InvestmentAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share of the other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method that will be reclassified to profit or loss, net of tax.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 82A
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_82A&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ShareOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethodThatWillBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The entity's share of the profit (loss) of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method. [Refer: Associates [member]; Investments accounted for using equity method; Joint ventures [member]; Profit (loss)]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 8
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 23
-Subparagraph g
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=8&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_23_g&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 8
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph e
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=8&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_28_e&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 82
-Subparagraph c
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_82_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Note Effective on first application of IFRS 9
-Name IFRS
-Number 4
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 39M
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=4&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_39M_b&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ShareOfProfitLossOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration