CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total		Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Investment securities	Currency translation adjustments	Cash flow hedges	Benefit plans	Other capital	Retained earnings	Common stock held in treasury	Changes in accounting Retained earnings
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018			$ (14,414)					$ 35,504	$ 93,109	$ (83,925)	$ 368
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 3,010			$ 116	$ 1,084	$ 11	$ 1,842
Gains (losses) on treasury stock dispositions								(817)
Stock-based compensation								382
Other changes								(753)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	(5,707)								(5,707)
Dividends and other transactions with shareholders									(557)
Purchases										(53)
Dispositions										1,038
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	29,153	[1]	(11,361)	77	(5,050)	24	(6,412)	34,315	87,213	(82,940)
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2019			(12,852)					34,324	96,773	(83,137)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,433			18	824	(2)	650
Gains (losses) on treasury stock dispositions								(160)
Stock-based compensation								118
Other changes								33
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	(9,423)								(9,423)
Dividends and other transactions with shareholders									(138)
Purchases										(8)
Dispositions										204
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	29,153	[1]	(11,361)	77	(5,050)	24	(6,412)	34,315	87,213	(82,940)
Preferred stock issued	6
Common stock issued	702
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
GE shareholders' equity balance	27,935
Noncontrolling interests balance (Note 15)	1,219
Preferred stock issued	6
Common stock issued	702
GE shareholders' equity balance	28,316
Noncontrolling interests balance (Note 15)	1,545
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	29,861		(11,732)					34,405	87,732	(82,797)	(175)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,241			(5)	129	(134)	2,245
Gains (losses) on treasury stock dispositions								(574)
Stock-based compensation								319
Other changes								129
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	3,068								3,068
Dividends and other transactions with shareholders									(720)
Purchases										(25)
Dispositions										697
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	34,793	[1]	(9,498)	55	(4,689)	(86)	(4,779)	34,279	89,905	(82,125)
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2020			(10,194)					34,292	91,188	(82,320)	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income (loss)	695			9	55	24	609
Gains (losses) on treasury stock dispositions								(162)
Stock-based compensation								104
Other changes								46
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	(1,144)								(1,144)
Dividends and other transactions with shareholders									(139)
Purchases										(3)
Dispositions										198
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	34,793	[1]	$ (9,498)	$ 55	$ (4,689)	$ (86)	$ (4,779)	$ 34,279	$ 89,905	$ (82,125)
Preferred stock issued	6
Common stock issued	702
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
GE shareholders' equity balance	33,269
Noncontrolling interests balance (Note 15)	$ 1,524

[1] Total equity balance increased by $5,639 in the last twelve months from September 30, 2019, primarily due to after-tax gain of $11,214 million due to the sale of our BioPharma business within our Healthcare segment, partially offset by after-tax change in unrealized loss on our remaining interest in Baker Hughes $(3,679) million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. See Notes 2 and 21 for further information.