GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	$ 27,239	$ 28,028	$ 52,467	$ 53,342
Other income	298	3,150	465	3,158
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	0	0	0	0
GE Capital revenues from services	2,022	2,316	4,286	4,838
Total revenues and other income	29,558	33,494	57,219	61,339
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	1,174	1,326	2,313	3,062
Other costs and expenses	26,870	28,344	52,560	54,214
Total costs and expenses	28,044	29,670	54,872	57,276
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	1,515	3,824	2,346	4,063
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(15)	(461)	(31)	(284)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	1,499	3,363	2,315	3,779
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(146)	(541)	(385)	(849)
Net earnings (loss)	1,354	2,823	1,931	2,930
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14)	(86)	(90)	(207)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	1,367	2,908	2,020	3,137
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,317	807	3,144	1,631
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	2,685	3,715	5,164	4,767
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company Guarantor
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	8,080	10,664	16,872	20,676
Other income	27,632	(264)	27,686	(38)
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(25,246)	5,228	(22,802)	6,135
GE Capital revenues from services	0	0	0	0
Total revenues and other income	10,467	15,628	21,756	26,774
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	767	851	1,677	1,662
Other costs and expenses	8,557	11,601	18,186	22,057
Total costs and expenses	9,324	12,453	19,862	23,719
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	1,143	3,175	1,894	3,055
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	370	312	514	931
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	1,513	3,486	2,408	3,986
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(146)	(541)	(388)	(849)
Net earnings (loss)	1,367	2,946	2,020	3,137
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	1,367	2,946	2,020	3,137
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,317	807	3,144	1,631
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	2,685	3,753	5,164	4,767
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Issuer
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	0	0	0	0
Other income	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	0	0	0	0
GE Capital revenues from services	173	200	329	596
Total revenues and other income	173	200	329	596
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	159	175	309	547
Other costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	159	175	309	548
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	14	25	20	48
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(2)	(3)	(2)	(6)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	12	22	17	42
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	12	22	17	42
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	12	22	17	42
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	(12)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	12	22	17	30
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Guarantor
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	0	0	0	0
Other income	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	450	(5)	692	665
GE Capital revenues from services	188	722	374	1,019
Total revenues and other income	638	717	1,066	1,683
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	489	677	943	1,608
Other costs and expenses	9	19	22	55
Total costs and expenses	497	695	965	1,663
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	141	21	101	20
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	(43)	115	(46)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	141	(22)	215	(26)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(5)	(521)	278	(996)
Net earnings (loss)	136	(542)	493	(1,022)
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	136	(542)	493	(1,022)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	32	246	649	63
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	168	(297)	1,142	(958)
Reportable Legal Entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	37,615	38,202	73,705	71,961
Other income	28,005	16,043	32,625	19,484
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	13,982	15,305	50,664	28,928
GE Capital revenues from services	2,589	1,760	4,859	6,344
Total revenues and other income	82,191	71,310	161,853	126,717
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	1,221	1,412	2,303	3,171
Other costs and expenses	37,570	38,786	73,511	74,624
Total costs and expenses	38,791	40,198	75,814	77,795
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	43,400	31,111	86,039	48,922
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(230)	(473)	(699)	(958)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	43,170	30,639	85,341	47,964
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	3	600	3	174
Net earnings (loss)	43,172	31,239	85,344	48,138
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	16	(66)	(32)	(91)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	43,156	31,305	85,376	48,230
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(25,537)	579	(26,994)	847
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	17,619	31,884	58,382	49,076
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	(18,456)	(20,838)	(38,110)	(39,295)
Other income	(55,339)	(12,629)	(59,845)	(16,288)
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	10,813	(20,528)	(28,555)	(35,728)
GE Capital revenues from services	(928)	(365)	(1,275)	(3,121)
Total revenues and other income	(63,910)	(54,359)	(127,786)	(94,431)
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	(1,463)	(1,790)	(2,920)	(3,927)
Other costs and expenses	(19,265)	(22,062)	(39,159)	(42,522)
Total costs and expenses	(20,728)	(23,852)	(42,078)	(46,449)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(43,183)	(30,508)	(85,707)	(47,983)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(154)	(254)	41	(205)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(43,336)	(30,762)	(85,666)	(48,187)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	2	(80)	(278)	821
Net earnings (loss)	(43,334)	(30,841)	(85,944)	(47,366)
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(30)	(20)	(57)	(116)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	(43,304)	(30,822)	(85,887)	(47,250)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	25,505	(825)	26,345	(898)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	$ (17,799)	$ (31,646)	$ (59,542)	$ (48,148)