SHAREOWNERS' EQUITY - Schedule of Reclassification Out of AOCI (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total revenues and other income	$ 33,472,000,000	$ 29,266,000,000	$ 90,691,000,000	$ 90,604,000,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	334,000,000	(18,000,000)	303,000,000	(302,000,000)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	1,800,000,000	2,056,000,000	4,115,000,000	5,835,000,000
Interest and other financial charges	1,232,000,000	961,000,000	3,545,000,000	4,023,000,000
GE Capital revenues from services	1,898,000,000	2,224,000,000	6,184,000,000	7,063,000,000
Other	32,006,000,000	27,191,000,000	86,879,000,000	84,467,000,000
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	1,466,000,000	2,074,000,000	3,812,000,000	6,137,000,000
Total reclassification adjustments (net of tax)	(254,000,000)	(602,000,000)	(1,779,000,000)	(1,548,000,000)
Available-for-sale securities
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Benefit plan items, Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(17,000,000)	5,000,000	(78,000,000)	36,000,000
Total reclassification adjustments (net of tax)	32,000,000	(1,000,000)	150,000,000	(40,000,000)
Available-for-sale securities | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total revenues and other income	49,000,000	(6,000,000)	228,000,000	(76,000,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(17,000,000)	5,000,000	(78,000,000)	36,000,000
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	32,000,000	(1,000,000)	150,000,000	(40,000,000)
Available-for-sale securities | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Discontinued operations
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total revenues and other income	0	0	0	(72,000,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	3,000,000	0	34,000,000
Currency translation adjustments
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Benefit plan items, Benefit (provision) for income taxes	2,000,000	(6,000,000)	(538,000,000)	74,000,000
Total reclassification adjustments (net of tax)	196,000,000	(85,000,000)	(391,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Currency translation adjustments | Discontinued operations
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total revenues and other income	0	(79,000,000)	32,000,000	(8,000,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	(7,000,000)	(541,000,000)	73,000,000
Currency translation adjustments | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total revenues and other income	194,000,000	(79,000,000)	147,000,000	(74,000,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	2,000,000	(6,000,000)	(538,000,000)	74,000,000
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	196,000,000	(85,000,000)	(391,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Cash flow hedges
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Benefit plan items, Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(28,000,000)	6,000,000	(37,000,000)	7,000,000
Total reclassification adjustments (net of tax)	75,000,000	(52,000,000)	129,000,000	(121,000,000)
Cash flow hedges | Foreign exchange contracts | Discontinued operations
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest and other financial charges	(8,000,000)	(13,000,000)	(30,000,000)	(48,000,000)
GE Capital revenues from services	105,000,000	(30,000,000)	206,000,000	1,000,000
Cash flow hedges | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(28,000,000)	6,000,000	(37,000,000)	7,000,000
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	75,000,000	(52,000,000)	129,000,000	(121,000,000)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	104,000,000	(57,000,000)	167,000,000	(128,000,000)
Cash flow hedges | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Gains (losses) on interest rate derivatives
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest and other financial charges	(6,000,000)	(12,000,000)	(21,000,000)	(67,000,000)
Cash flow hedges | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Foreign exchange contracts
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
GE Capital revenues from services	98,000,000	(43,000,000)	176,000,000	(47,000,000)
Cash flow hedges | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Other
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other	12,000,000	(3,000,000)	13,000,000	(14,000,000)
Benefit plan items
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Benefit plan items, reclassifications	(832,000,000)	(703,000,000)	(2,500,000,000)	(2,099,000,000)
Benefit plan items, Benefit (provision) for income taxes	275,000,000	238,000,000	833,000,000	712,000,000
Total reclassification adjustments (net of tax)	(557,000,000)	(465,000,000)	(1,667,000,000)	(1,387,000,000)
Curtailment gain (loss)
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Benefit plan items, reclassifications	(11,000,000)	0	(57,000,000)	1,000,000
Amortization of prior service cost
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Benefit plan items, reclassifications	(30,000,000)	(34,000,000)	(89,000,000)	(108,000,000)
Benefit plan items, Benefit (provision) for income taxes	17,000,000	22,000,000	55,000,000	63,000,000
Total reclassification adjustments (net of tax)	(13,000,000)	(12,000,000)	(34,000,000)	(45,000,000)
Amortization of actuarial gains (losses)
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Benefit plan items, reclassifications	(791,000,000)	(669,000,000)	(2,354,000,000)	(1,992,000,000)
Benefit plan items, Benefit (provision) for income taxes	255,000,000	216,000,000	759,000,000	649,000,000
Total reclassification adjustments (net of tax)	(536,000,000)	$ (453,000,000)	(1,595,000,000)	$ (1,343,000,000)
Additional paid in capital
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total reclassification adjustments (net of tax)	$ 146,000,000		$ 146,000,000