CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical - equity) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
AIG shareholders' equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 2.5	$ 2.5
Common stock, shares authorized	5,000,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized	5,000,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
Common stock, shares issued	1,906,671,492us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued	1,906,671,492us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Treasury stock, shares of common stock	559,593,905us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares	530,744,521us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares

Face amount or stated value per share of common stock.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 30

-Article 5

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- Definition

The maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

+ References

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- Definition

Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury.

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- Definition

Number of common and preferred shares that were previously issued and that were repurchased by the issuing entity and held in treasury on the financial statement date. This stock has no voting rights and receives no dividends.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.28,29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

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