OPERATING SEGMENTS - Reconciliation of Assets, Property, Plant and Equipment Additions and Depreciation and Amortization (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 377,945	[1]	$ 365,183	[1]	$ 493,071
Property, plant and equipment additions	12,728		7,305		13,911
Depreciation and amortization	7,358		7,139		6,508
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	0		0		0
Operating segments | Power
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	71,133		71,678		68,793
Property, plant and equipment additions	1,072		963		3,195
Depreciation and amortization	1,358		1,549		1,035
Investments in and advances to associated companies	1,170
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	81
Operating segments | Renewable Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	10,813		8,794		9,468
Property, plant and equipment additions	624		166		999
Depreciation and amortization	259		183		116
Investments in and advances to associated companies	89
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(4)
Operating segments | Oil & Gas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	59,784		24,615		26,126
Property, plant and equipment additions	5,469		284		422
Depreciation and amortization	1,026		529		596
Investments in and advances to associated companies	476
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(5)
Operating segments | Aviation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	41,753		38,899		34,524
Property, plant and equipment additions	1,426		1,328		1,260
Depreciation and amortization	979		900		855
Investments in and advances to associated companies	1,900
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	110
Operating segments | Healthcare
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	28,772		28,639		28,162
Property, plant and equipment additions	393		432		284
Depreciation and amortization	806		785		799
Investments in and advances to associated companies	392
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	17
Operating segments | Transportation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	4,490		4,288		4,368
Property, plant and equipment additions	128		108		202
Depreciation and amortization	135		168		188
Investments in and advances to associated companies	56
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(1)
Operating segments | Lighting
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	724		1,659		4,702
Property, plant and equipment additions	34		160		275
Depreciation and amortization	86		173		103
Investments in and advances to associated companies	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	2
Operating segments | Capital
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	156,716		187,804		316,069
Property, plant and equipment additions	3,680		3,769		7,570
Depreciation and amortization	2,343		2,515		2,584
Investments in and advances to associated companies	7,294
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(31)
Corporate items and eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	3,761		(1,192)		858
Property, plant and equipment additions	(100)		94		(297)
Depreciation and amortization	$ 367		$ 337		$ 231

[1] Our consolidated assets at December 31, 2017 included total assets of $6,200 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 $1,720 million and investment securities of $918 million within continuing operations and assets of discontinued operations of $300 million. Our consolidated liabilities at December 31, 2017 included liabilities of certain VIEs for which the VIE creditors do not have recourse to GE. These liabilities included non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities (CSEs) of $685 million within continuing operations. See Note 20.