Represents the maximum graded vesting schedule of cash portion of the awards.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardContingentPerformanceCashPortionMaximumPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the range of the ultimate value of awards measured on the basis of the amount of contingent performance measures.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardContingentPerformanceMeasureTargetAmountRange
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the contingent performance measurement period to receive additional compensation in the form of cash and stock appreciation rights.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardContingentPerformanceMeasuresPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options that validly exist and are outstanding that is expected to vest on satisfaction of the service condition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedPercentageExpectedToVestOnSatisfactionOfServiceConditions
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 14
-Section F

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate cash paid by the entity during the period to settle equity instruments granted under equity-based payment arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (k)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashFlowEffectCashUsedToSettleAwards
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)(i)-(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=aig_LongTermIncentivePlans2012Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=aig_StockSalaryAwardsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

SHARE-BASED AND OTHER COMPENSATION PLANS (Details - Cash-settled Awards) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) item shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Cash paid to settle awards	$ 147	$ 120	$ 101
Compensation expense	365	349	457
Long Term Incentive Plans 2012 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense	$ 19	57	249
Percentage of outstanding awards that will vest once the service requirements are satisfied	100.00%
Contingent performance measurement period	2 years
Long Term Incentive Plans 2012 [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contingent performance target amount \| item	2
Contingent performance cash portion maximum period	2 years
Long Term Incentive Plans 2012 [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contingent performance target amount \| item	0
Stock Salary Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Cash paid to settle awards	$ 42	89	180
Compensation expense	$ 2	$ 7	$ 73
Number of vested but unsettled RSUs \| shares	24,405
RSUs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense	$ 17
Number of vested but unsettled RSUs \| shares	412,958	1,404,645
SARs \| Long Term Incentive Plans 2012 [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contingent performance cash portion maximum period	2 years