Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Goodwill Balances) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Changes in goodwill balances
Acquisitions	$ 17,000,000	$ 0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other	793,000,000	(69,000,000)
Goodwill, period increase (decrease)	(776,000,000)	69,000,000
Goodwill	26,195,000,000	26,971,000,000	26,902,000,000
Discount Rates Used In Reporting Unit Valuations Minimum Rate	11.25%
Discount Rates Used In Reporting Unit Valuations Maximum Rate	13.30%
Disposition Effect Goodwill [Member]
Changes in goodwill balances
Goodwill, period increase (decrease)	749,000,000	107,000,000
Currency Exchange Effect On Goodwill [Member]
Changes in goodwill balances
Goodwill, period increase (decrease)		180,000,000
CLL [Member]
Changes in goodwill balances
Acquisitions	3,000,000	0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other	(65,000,000)	21,000,000
Goodwill	13,522,000,000	13,454,000,000	13,475,000,000
Consumer [Member]
Changes in goodwill balances
Acquisitions	14,000,000	0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other	619,000,000	(165,000,000)
Goodwill	10,277,000,000	10,882,000,000	10,717,000,000
Real Estate [Member]
Changes in goodwill balances
Acquisitions	0	0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other	184,000,000	75,000,000
Goodwill	742,000,000	926,000,000	1,001,000,000
Discount Rate Goodwill Impairment	11.25%
Implied Fair Value Of Goodwill Exceeding Carrying Value Of Goodwill	3,700,000,000
Energy Financial Services [Member]
Changes in goodwill balances
Acquisitions	0	0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other	55,000,000	0
Goodwill	1,507,000,000	1,562,000,000	1,562,000,000
GECAS [Member]
Changes in goodwill balances
Acquisitions	0	0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other	0	0
Goodwill	$ 147,000,000	$ 147,000,000	$ 147,000,000