Shareowners' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Changes To Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance	$ 6,054	$ 6,302	$ 6,217	$ 5,444
Net earnings	(21)	(10)	(2)	140
GECC issuance of preferred stock	0	0	0	990
GECC preferred stock dividend	0	0	(161)	(135)
Dividends	(20)	(9)	(55)	(72)
Dispositions	(6)	(15)	(98)	(119)
Synchrony Financial	2,393	0	2,393	0
AOCI and other	113	85	219	105
Ending balance	$ 8,513	$ 6,353	$ 8,513	$ 6,353

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Decrease in noncontrolling interest balance from payment of dividends or other distributions by the non-wholly owned subsidiary or partially owned entity, included in the consolidation of the parent entity, to the noncontrolling interest preferred holders.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Net Earnings Due To Change In Noncontrolling Interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The impact on noncontrolling interest balance of the issuance of preferred stock

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

This element represents Other Comprehensive Income or Loss, Net of Tax, for the period attributable to noncontrolling interest. Includes deferred gains or losses on qualifying hedges, unrealized holding gains or losses on available-for-sale securities, minimum pension liability, and cumulative translation adjustment in addition to various other transactions related to noncontrolling interests

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

No authoritative reference available.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (that is, noncontrolling interest, previously referred to as minority interest).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.31)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 27

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 20

-Article 7

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- Definition

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

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- Definition

The amount of the reduction or elimination during the period of a noncontrolling interest resulting from the parent's loss of control and deconsolidation of the entity in which one or more outside parties had a noncontrolling interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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