Shareowners' Equity (Shares of GE Preferred Stock) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016	Jan. 20, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 03, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued	$ 6				$ 6		$ 5,944			$ 5,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	5,944,250				5,944,250
Noncontrolling interests	$ 1,663	[1]	$ 1,693		$ 1,864	[1]		$ 8,788	$ 8,776	$ 8,674
Preferred stock
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued	5,250
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding										50,000
Series A
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued	91			$ 2,687			2,778
Series B
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued	64			2,008			2,073
Series C
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued	95			999			1,094
Series D
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued				$ 5,694			$ 5,944
Series D | Preferred stock
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued	5,944
GE Capital
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued	6				6
Noncontrolling interests	419				$ 486
GE Capital | Preferred stock
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued	$ 5,250							4,949
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding										50,000
Synchrony Financial
Shares of Preferred Stock
Noncontrolling interests								$ 2,790

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