Parent Company - Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 8,374	$ 7,514	$ 8,060
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	18,559	21,079	14,645
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities	(24,433)	(33,689)	(10,529)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from long-term debt	15,674	23,230	7,788
Payments of long-term debt	(10,703)	(18,906)	(11,662)
Issuance of American Express preferred shares	0	0	1,584
Redemption of American Express preferred shares	0	0	(1,600)
Issuance of American Express common shares	28	56	64
Repurchase of American Express common shares and other	(3,650)	(3,502)	(7,652)
Dividends paid	(1,780)	(1,565)	(1,448)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	18,379	24,509	(14,933)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	12,682	11,886	(10,937)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	33,914	22,028	32,965
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	46,596	33,914	22,028
Parent Company
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	8,374	7,514	8,060
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in net income of subsidiaries and affiliates	(8,577)	(7,905)	(8,560)
Dividends received from subsidiaries and affiliates	5,326	5,549	9,102
Other operating activities, primarily with subsidiaries and affiliates	360	160	(305)
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,483	5,318	8,297
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Net increase in loans to subsidiaries and affiliates	(2,836)	(4,850)	(176)
Investments in subsidiaries and affiliates	0	(1)	(60)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,836)	(4,851)	(236)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net decrease in short-term debt from subsidiaries and affiliates	0	(136)	(2,636)
Proceeds from long-term debt	9,969	13,202	3,000
Payments of long-term debt	(5,750)	(5,675)	(5,000)
Issuance of American Express preferred shares	0	0	1,584
Redemption of American Express preferred shares	0	0	(1,600)
Issuance of American Express common shares	28	56	64
Repurchase of American Express common shares and other	(3,650)	(3,502)	(7,652)
Dividends paid	(1,780)	(1,565)	(1,448)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1,183)	2,380	(13,688)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,464	2,847	(5,627)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	8,188	5,341	10,968
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	9,652	8,188	5,341
Non-Cash Investing Activities
Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates	0	0	(1,787)
Non-Cash Financing Activities
Proceeds from long-term debt	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,787