SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 segment	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment results
Number of reportable segments			2
Total revenues	$ 16,654	$ 15,944	$ 48,871	$ 51,332
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	3,019	1,178	9,772	7,218
Reportable Segments | Total AIG Property Casualty
Segment results
Total revenues	10,007	9,704	29,623	29,473
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,207	1,126	4,006	3,945
Reportable Segments | Total AIG Property Casualty | Operating Segments | Commercial Insurance
Segment results
Total revenues	5,971	5,760	17,502	17,229
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	573	610	2,149	2,186
Reportable Segments | Total AIG Property Casualty | Operating Segments | Consumer Insurance
Segment results
Total revenues	3,362	3,359	9,962	10,212
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	131	93	315	337
Reportable Segments | Total AIG Property Casualty | Other
Segment results
Total revenues	674	585	2,159	2,032
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	503	423	1,542	1,422
Reportable Segments | Total AIG Life and Retirement
Segment results
Total revenues	5,074	4,644	13,995	15,432
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,931	1,241	4,412	4,530
Reportable Segments | Total AIG Life and Retirement | Operating Segments | Retail
Segment results
Total revenues	3,318	2,884	9,056	9,326
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,160	941	2,563	3,114
Reportable Segments | Total AIG Life and Retirement | Operating Segments | Institutional
Segment results
Total revenues	1,756	1,760	4,939	6,106
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	771	300	1,849	1,416
Consolidation and Eliminations
Segment results
Total revenues	(160)	(200)	(544)	(646)
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	137	34	270	96
Other Operations
Segment results
Total revenues	1,733	1,796	5,797	7,073
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	(256)	(1,223)	1,084	(1,353)
Other Operations | Aircraft Leasing
Segment results
Total revenues		1,118	1,602	3,303
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations		(1)	17	60
Other Operations | Consolidation and elimination of reconciling items
Segment results
Total revenues	(9)	(9)	(24)	(28)
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	(1)	1	1	3
Other Operations | Mortgage Guaranty
Segment results
Total revenues	262	236	771	710
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	135	43	423	162
Other Operations | Global Capital Markets
Segment results
Total revenues	72	87	417	592
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	58	29	332	431
Other Operations | Direct Investment Book
Segment results
Total revenues	430	147	1,260	1,373
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	228	52	855	1,084
Other Operations | Corporate and Other
Segment results
Total revenues	978	217	1,771	1,123
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ (676)	$ (1,347)	$ (544)	$ (3,093)