<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-12-01</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000005272</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>(AIG)</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194913</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HILLS CARLA A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HILLS &amp; COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1200 19TH STREET, N.W., SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock (Deferred)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-01</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>125</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>59.1600</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>375.0000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Grant of shares with delivery deferred pursuant to Directors Plan.  Delivery is deferred until such time as the director has resigned or retired from the Board.  These shares have no right to vote and no dividend rights.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: /s/ Kathleen E. Shannon, by power of attorney for Carla A. Hills</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-12-02</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

