Guarantor Financial Information (Statement of Financial Position) (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and equivalents		$ 52,530			$ 70,483
Investments		46,369			31,973
Receivables - net		43,351			45,856
Inventories		24,116			22,515
Property, plant and equipment - net		51,453			54,095
Investment in subsidiaries		0			0
Goodwill and intangible assets		86,767			83,323
Other assets		52,178			63,876
Assets of discontinued operations		30,930			120,951
Total assets	[1]	387,694			493,071
Liabilities [Abstract]
Short-term borrowings		31,571			49,860
Accounts payable		13,067			13,680
Other current liabilities		38,051			41,540
Long term and non-recourse borrowings		117,861			147,742
Other liabilities		90,765			90,651
Liabilities of discontinued operations		9,782			46,487
Total liabilities	[1]	301,098			389,961
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		3,051		$ 3,070	2,972		$ 82	$ 79	$ 98
Total GE shareowners' equity		81,882			98,274		111,204		128,159
Noncontrolling interests		1,663	[2]	$ 1,693	1,864	[2]	8,788	$ 8,776	$ 8,674
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		83,544			100,138		$ 119,993
Liabilities and Equity		387,694			493,071
Parent Company Guarantor (General Electric)
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and equivalents		2,344			4,137
Investments		2			14
Receivables - net		63,057			88,696
Inventories		5,085			5,447
Property, plant and equipment - net		5,607			6,540
Investment in subsidiaries		275,823			274,471
Goodwill and intangible assets		7,987			7,793
Other assets		13,491			15,732
Assets of discontinued operations		0			0
Total assets		373,397			402,828
Liabilities [Abstract]
Short-term borrowings		161,873			145,051
Accounts payable		3,405			6,096
Other current liabilities		11,900			14,482
Long term and non-recourse borrowings		72,304			97,471
Other liabilities		42,033			41,455
Liabilities of discontinued operations		0			0
Total liabilities		291,515			304,555
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		0			0
Total GE shareowners' equity		81,882			98,274
Noncontrolling interests		0			0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		81,882			98,274
Liabilities and Equity		373,397			402,828
Subsidiary Issuer (GE Capital)
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and equivalents		0			0
Investments		0			0
Receivables - net		17,295			33,232
Inventories		0			0
Property, plant and equipment - net		0			0
Investment in subsidiaries		0			0
Goodwill and intangible assets		0			0
Other assets		1,502			11
Assets of discontinued operations		0			0
Total assets		18,797			33,242
Liabilities [Abstract]
Short-term borrowings		1			16,204
Accounts payable		0			0
Other current liabilities		31			(1)
Long term and non-recourse borrowings		18,315			16,423
Other liabilities		269			489
Liabilities of discontinued operations		0			0
Total liabilities		18,615			33,115
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		0			0
Total GE shareowners' equity		182			127
Noncontrolling interests		0			0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		182			127
Liabilities and Equity		18,797			33,242
Subsidiary Guarantor (Subsidiary)
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and equivalents		3			0
Investments		0			0
Receivables - net		31,971			69,306
Inventories		0			0
Property, plant and equipment - net		0			0
Investment in subsidiaries		77,814			78,505
Goodwill and intangible assets		0			0
Other assets		554			915
Assets of discontinued operations		0			0
Total assets		110,341			148,725
Liabilities [Abstract]
Short-term borrowings		43,258			71,862
Accounts payable		0			0
Other current liabilities		69			17
Long term and non-recourse borrowings		37,400			46,392
Other liabilities		725			224
Liabilities of discontinued operations		0			0
Total liabilities		81,452			118,495
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		0			0
Total GE shareowners' equity		28,889			30,230
Noncontrolling interests		0			0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		28,889			30,230
Liabilities and Equity		110,341			148,725
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and equivalents		53,095			86,955
Investments		51,943			40,886
Receivables - net		73,689			75,909
Inventories		22,080			19,762
Property, plant and equipment - net		47,128			56,808
Investment in subsidiaries		479,809			405,686
Goodwill and intangible assets		55,877			61,412
Other assets		209,173			247,611
Assets of discontinued operations		0			0
Total assets		992,795			995,029
Liabilities [Abstract]
Short-term borrowings		35,032			60,601
Accounts payable		38,742			37,636
Other current liabilities		25,671			34,903
Long term and non-recourse borrowings		79,624			105,801
Other liabilities		58,203			57,996
Liabilities of discontinued operations		0			0
Total liabilities		237,272			296,937
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		2,309			2,888
Total GE shareowners' equity		751,448			693,589
Noncontrolling interests		1,766			1,616
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		753,214			695,204
Liabilities and Equity		992,795			995,029
Consolidation adjustments
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and equivalents		(2,913)			(20,609)
Investments		(5,576)			(8,927)
Receivables - net		(142,660)			(221,286)
Inventories		(3,049)			(2,694)
Property, plant and equipment - net		(1,282)			(9,253)
Investment in subsidiaries		(833,446)			(758,662)
Goodwill and intangible assets		22,902			14,118
Other assets		(172,543)			(200,392)
Assets of discontinued operations		30,930			120,951
Total assets		(1,107,637)			(1,086,754)
Liabilities [Abstract]
Short-term borrowings		(208,593)			(243,858)
Accounts payable		(29,080)			(30,052)
Other current liabilities		380			(7,860)
Long term and non-recourse borrowings		(89,782)			(118,345)
Other liabilities		(10,464)			(9,514)
Liabilities of discontinued operations		9,782			46,487
Total liabilities		(327,756)			(363,141)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		742			84
Total GE shareowners' equity		(780,519)			(723,946)
Noncontrolling interests		(103)			248
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(780,622)			(723,697)
Liabilities and Equity		$ (1,107,637)			$ (1,086,754)

[1] Our consolidated assets at September 30, 2016 included total assets of $7,962 million of certain variable interest entities (VIEs) that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs. These assets included current receivables and net financing receivables of $4,155 million and investment securities of $1,450 million wit hin continuing operations and assets of discontinued operations of $398 million. Our consolidated liabilities at September 30, 2016 included liabilities of certain VIEs for which the VIE creditors do not have recourse to GE. These liabilities included n o n-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities (CSEs) of $2,175 million within continuing operations. See Note 16.

[2] Included AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interests of $(254) million and $(264) million at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively.