REINSURANCE (Details - Supplemental information for loss and benefit reserves, gross and net of ceded reinsurance) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Effects of Reinsurance [Line Items]
Allowance for doubtful accounts on reinsurance assets	$ 258,000,000	$ 276,000,000
Supplemental information for loss and benefit reserves
Liability for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expense, As Reported	(77,260,000,000)	(81,547,000,000)	(87,991,000,000)	(91,145,000,000)
Liability for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expense, Net of Reinsurance	(61,612,000,000)	(64,316,000,000)	(68,782,000,000)	(70,825,000,000)
Future policy benefits for life and accident and health insurance contracts	(42,749,000,000)	(40,653,000,000)
Future policy benefits for life and accident and health insurance contracts, Net of Reinsurance	(41,767,000,000)	(39,619,000,000)
Reserve for unearned premiums, As Reported	(21,324,000,000)us-gaap_UnearnedPremiums	(21,953,000,000)us-gaap_UnearnedPremiums
Reserve for unearned premiums, Net of Reinsurance	(18,278,000,000)aig_UnearnedPremiumsNet	(18,532,000,000)aig_UnearnedPremiumsNet
Reinsurance assets	19,676,000,000aig_ReinsuranceAssetsGross	21,686,000,000aig_ReinsuranceAssetsGross
NICO
Supplemental information for loss and benefit reserves
Net of reinsurance amount reflecting cession	$ 1,500,000,000	$ 1,600,000,000

Represents the valuation allowance for doubtful accounts on reinsurance assets as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsOnReinsuranceAssets
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the liability for future policy benefits for life and accident and health insurance contracts, net of reinsurance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_FuturePolicyBenefitsForLifeAndAccidentAndHealthInsuranceContractsNet
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents gross reinsurance assets, excluding allowances and reinsurance recoverable on paid losses.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_ReinsuranceAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of premiums written on insurance contracts that have not been earned, net of reinsurance, as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_UnearnedPremiumsNet
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectsOfReinsuranceLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before the balance sheet date, whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to casualty insurance insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date) and the amount needed to provide for the estimated ultimate cost required to investigate and settle claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date), whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 18

-Article 12

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpensePropertyCasualtyLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of accrued obligation to policyholders that relates to insured events for long-duration contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 25

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28366191&loc=d3e13145-158430

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph a

-Article 7

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Liability as of the balance sheet date for amounts representing estimated cost of settling unpaid claims under the terms of the underlying insurance policies, less estimated reinsurance recoveries on such claims. This includes an estimate for claims which have been incurred but not reported. Claim adjustment expenses represent the costs estimated to be incurred in the settlement of unpaid claims.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Financial Reporting Release (FRR)

-Number 403

-Paragraph 04

-Subparagraph b

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph a

-Article 7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SupplementaryInsuranceInformationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount of premiums written on insurance contracts that have not been earned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 16

-Article 12

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),13(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph a(2)

-Article 7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnearnedPremiums
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis=aig_NICOMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: