GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenues
Revenues	$ 20,524	$ 22,202
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	794	1,065
Other costs and expenses	20,124	20,862
Total costs and expenses	20,918	21,927
Other income (loss)	6,869	847
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	6,475	1,122
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(63)	(140)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	6,412	983
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(178)	2,663
Net earnings (loss)	6,233	3,645
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	34	57
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	6,199	3,588
Other comprehensive income (loss)	913	930
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	7,113	4,517
Goods and services
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	18,814	20,257
GE Capital revenues from services
Revenues
Revenues	1,709	1,945
Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	42	40
Costs and expenses
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	39	39
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company Guarantor
Revenues
Revenues	6,217	4,580
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	295	379
Other costs and expenses	6,898	8,494
Total costs and expenses	7,192	8,873
Other income (loss)	705	(6,743)
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	6,615	14,929
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	6,344	3,893
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	20	(335)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	6,363	3,558
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(164)	30
Net earnings (loss)	6,199	3,588
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	6,199	3,588
Other comprehensive income (loss)	913	929
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	7,113	4,517
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company Guarantor | Goods and services
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	6,217	4,580
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company Guarantor | GE Capital revenues from services
Revenues
Revenues	0	0
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Issuer
Revenues
Revenues	238	233
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	258	231
Other costs and expenses	0	0
Total costs and expenses	258	231
Other income (loss)	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(20)	3
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	2	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(17)	2
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	(17)	2
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	(17)	2
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	(17)	2
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Issuer | Goods and services
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	0	0
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Issuer | GE Capital revenues from services
Revenues
Revenues	238	233
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Guarantor
Revenues
Revenues	2	75
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	313	379
Other costs and expenses	0	0
Total costs and expenses	313	380
Other income (loss)	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	278	375
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(34)	71
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(34)	71
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(15)	0
Net earnings (loss)	(49)	71
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	(49)	71
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(12)	(1,082)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	(61)	(1,011)
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Guarantor | Goods and services
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	0	0
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Guarantor | GE Capital revenues from services
Revenues
Revenues	2	75
Reportable Legal Entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues
Revenues	31,386	41,035
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	337	577
Other costs and expenses	32,294	38,880
Total costs and expenses	32,631	39,457
Other income (loss)	18,294	16,963
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	17,098	11,013
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	34,148	29,555
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	421	(658)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	34,568	28,896
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	34,568	28,896
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1	(1)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	34,567	28,897
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(823)	(443)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	33,744	28,454
Reportable Legal Entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Goods and services
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	29,404	38,456
Reportable Legal Entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | GE Capital revenues from services
Revenues
Revenues	1,983	2,580
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues
Revenues	(17,319)	(23,722)
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	(409)	(501)
Other costs and expenses	(19,068)	(26,512)
Total costs and expenses	(19,477)	(27,013)
Other income (loss)	(12,129)	(9,372)
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(23,991)	(26,318)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(33,963)	(32,399)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(506)	854
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(34,469)	(31,545)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	1	2,632
Net earnings (loss)	(34,468)	(28,912)
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	33	58
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	(34,501)	(28,970)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	835	1,524
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	(33,666)	(27,446)
Consolidating Adjustments | Goods and services
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	(16,806)	(22,779)
Consolidating Adjustments | GE Capital revenues from services
Revenues
Revenues	$ (513)	$ (943)