SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 segment	Jun. 30, 2013
Segment results
Number of reportable segments			2
Total revenues	$ 16,105	$ 18,426	$ 32,217	$ 35,388
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	4,480	3,165	6,753	6,040
Operating Segments | Total AIG Property Casualty
Segment results
Total revenues	9,950	9,801	19,616	19,769
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,490	1,205	2,799	2,819
Operating Segments | Total AIG Life and Retirement
Segment results
Total revenues	4,570	6,048	8,921	10,788
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,249	1,719	2,481	3,289
Operating Segments | Other Operations
Segment results
Total revenues	1,804	2,836	4,064	5,277
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,685	251	1,340	(130)
Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Total AIG Property Casualty | Commercial Insurance
Segment results
Total revenues	5,889	5,696	11,531	11,469
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	863	535	1,576	1,576
Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Total AIG Property Casualty | Consumer Insurance
Segment results
Total revenues	3,342	3,347	6,600	6,853
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	157	91	184	244
Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Total AIG Property Casualty | Other Insurance
Segment results
Total revenues	719	758	1,485	1,447
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	470	579	1,039	999
Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Total AIG Life and Retirement | Retail
Segment results
Total revenues	2,972	3,439	5,738	6,442
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	738	1,177	1,403	2,173
Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Total AIG Life and Retirement | Institutional
Segment results
Total revenues	1,598	2,609	3,183	4,346
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	511	542	1,078	1,116
Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Other Operations | Mortgage Guaranty
Segment results
Total revenues	260	243	509	474
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	211	75	288	119
Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Other Operations | Global Capital Markets
Segment results
Total revenues	286	232	345	505
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	245	175	274	402
Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Other Operations | Direct Investment Book
Segment results
Total revenues	365	815	830	1,226
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	272	720	627	1,032
Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Other Operations | Corporate and Other
Segment results
Total revenues	411	445	793	906
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	956	(738)	132	(1,746)
Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Other Operations | Aircraft Leasing
Segment results
Total revenues	489	1,111	1,602	2,185
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	0	18	17	61
Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Other Operations | Consolidation and elimination of reconciling items
Segment results
Total revenues	(7)	(10)	(15)	(19)
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	1	1	2	2
Consolidation and Eliminations
Segment results
Total revenues	(219)	(259)	(384)	(446)
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 56	$ (10)	$ 133	$ 62