Shareowners' Equity (Shares of GE Preferred Stock) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 17, 2008	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 20, 2016	Dec. 03, 2015	Dec. 31, 2013
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, shares issued		5,944,250		5,944,250
Preferred stock, value, issued		$ 6		$ 6		$ 0		$ 5,944
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding		5,944,250		5,944,250		50,000
Purchases		$ 22,073		$ 23,762		$ 1,950
Gains Losses On Treasury Stock Dispositions And Other Additional Paid In Capital During Period		(389)		4,724		396
Noncontrolling interests		1,663	[1]	1,864	[1]	8,674			$ 6,217
Class of Stock
Initial Fixed Interest Rate Of Preferred Stock								4.07%
Preferred stock
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued		$ 5,283
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share		$ 1
Preferred Stock Shares Authorized		50,000,000
Number Of Common Stock Shares Warrants Can Purchase	134,831,460
Common stock
Shares of Preferred Stock
Cumulative Percentage Of Dividends On Preferred Stock	0.10%
Series A
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued							$ 2,687	$ 2,778
Series B
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued							2,008	2,073
Series C
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued							999	$ 1,094
Series D
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued							$ 5,694
Class of Stock
Initial Fixed Interest Rate Of Preferred Stock							5.00%
GE Capital
Shares of Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, value, issued		$ 6		6
Noncontrolling interests		$ 285		486
GE Capital | Preferred stock
Shares of Preferred Stock
Gains Losses On Treasury Stock Dispositions And Other Additional Paid In Capital During Period				4,949
Synchrony Financial
Shares of Preferred Stock
Gains Losses On Treasury Stock Dispositions And Other Additional Paid In Capital During Period						$ 440
Synchrony Financial | Common stock
Shares of Preferred Stock
Purchases				$ (20,383)

[1] Included AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interests of $(278) million and $(264) million at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively.