Fair Values (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	[1]	$ 2,280	$ 33	$ 66	$ 102
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member loans, less reserves for credit losses		481	687
Loans to affiliates and other		12,088	10,345
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt		8,950	13,469
Long-term debt to affiliates		972	9,292
Carrying Value [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents		2,300	0
Other financial assets		10,000	26,300
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member loans, less reserves for credit losses		500	700
Loans to affiliates and other		12,100	10,300
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value		11,600	11,200
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt		8,900	13,500
Long-term debt to affiliates		1,000	9,300
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents		2,300	0
Other financial assets		10,000	26,300
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member loans, less reserves for credit losses		500	700
Loans to affiliates and other		12,200	10,400
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value		11,600	11,200
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt		9,300	13,700
Long-term debt to affiliates		1,000	9,400
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents		2,300	0
Other financial assets		100	100
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member loans, less reserves for credit losses		0	0
Loans to affiliates and other		0	0
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value		0	0
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt		0	0
Long-term debt to affiliates		0	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents		0	0
Other financial assets		9,900	26,200
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member loans, less reserves for credit losses		0	0
Loans to affiliates and other		7,200	2,800
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value		11,600	11,200
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt		9,300	13,700
Long-term debt to affiliates		1,000	9,400
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents		0	0
Other financial assets		0	0
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member loans, less reserves for credit losses		500	700
Loans to affiliates and other		5,000	7,600
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value		0	0
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt		0	0
Long-term debt to affiliates		$ 0	$ 0

[1] Primarily represents deposits with American Express National Bank (AENB). Refer to Note 1 for additional information.