DEBT (Details - Total debt outstanding) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			6.50%
Balance at the end of the period	$ 30,912	$ 29,249
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	30,912	29,249
2017	2,161
2018	2,056
2019	1,095
2020	1,488
2021	1,952
Thereafter	17,789
Borrowings of consolidated investments	4,400
Long-term debt excluding borrowings of consolidated investments	26,541
Uncollateralized and collateralized notes, bonds, loans and mortgages payable	1,065
Collateral posted	4,500	3,000
Debt Issuance Costs	101	88
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	330
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	330
Collateralized Loans and Mortgages Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	735
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	735
AIGLH
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	642	704
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	642	704
AIG
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	21,405	19,777
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	21,405	19,777
AIG | Series AIGFP
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	31	31
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	31	31
AIG | MIP
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	1,099	1,372
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	1,099	1,372
Other Subsidiaries
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	8,865	8,768
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	8,865	8,768
Notes and bonds payable | AIG
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	19,432	17,047
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	19,432	17,047
Junior subordinated debt | AIG
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	843	1,327
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	843	1,327
Other subsidiaries notes, bonds, loans and mortgages payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	735
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	735
2017	735
2018	0
2019	0
2020	0
2021	0
Thereafter	0
Other subsidiaries notes, bonds, loans and mortgages payable | Other Subsidiaries
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Uncollateralized and collateralized notes, bonds, loans and mortgages payable	735
Other subsidiaries notes, bonds, loans and mortgages payable | Other Subsidiaries | Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	0
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	0
Other subsidiaries notes, bonds, loans and mortgages payable | Other Subsidiaries | Collateralized Loans and Mortgages Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	735
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	735
Debt issued or guaranteed
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	25,806	24,260
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	25,806	24,260
2017	1,426
2018	2,056
2019	1,095
2020	1,488
2021	1,952
Thereafter	17,789
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	21,247	19,184
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	21,247	19,184
2017	167
2018	1,106
2019	997
2020	1,456
2021	1,710
Thereafter	15,811
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | AIG
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Uncollateralized and collateralized notes, bonds, loans and mortgages payable	330
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | AIG | Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	330
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	330
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | AIG | Collateralized Loans and Mortgages Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	0
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	0
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Notes and bonds payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	19,432	17,047
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	19,432	17,047
2017	167
2018	1,106
2019	997
2020	1,342
2021	1,494
Thereafter	$ 14,326
Debt Instrument, Maturity, Start year	2017
Debt Instrument, Maturity, End Year	2097
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Notes and bonds payable | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	8.13%
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Notes and bonds payable | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.99%
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Notes and bonds payable | AIGLH
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	$ 281	284
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	281	284
Thereafter	$ 281
Debt Instrument, Maturity, Start year	2025
Debt Instrument, Maturity, End Year	2029
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Notes and bonds payable | AIGLH | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.50%
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Notes and bonds payable | AIGLH | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.63%
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Subordinated debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.00%
Balance at the end of the period	$ 0	0
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	0	0
2017	0
2018	0
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Junior subordinated debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	843	1,327
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	843	1,327
Thereafter	$ 843
Debt Instrument, Maturity, Start year	2037
Debt Instrument, Maturity, End Year	2058
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Junior subordinated debt | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	8.63%
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Junior subordinated debt | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.88%
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Junior subordinated debt | AIGLH
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	$ 361	420
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	361	420
Thereafter	$ 361
Debt Instrument, Maturity, Start year	2030
Debt Instrument, Maturity, End Year	2046
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Junior subordinated debt | AIGLH | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	8.50%
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | Junior subordinated debt | AIGLH | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.57%
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	$ 330	106
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	330	106
2020	114
2021	$ 216
Debt Instrument, Maturity, Start year	2020
Debt Instrument, Maturity, End Year	2021
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.44%
Uncollateralized Notes/Bonds/Loans Payable | AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.28%
Borrowings supported by assets
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	$ 4,559	5,076
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	4,559	5,076
2017	1,259
2018	950
2019	98
2020	32
2021	242
Thereafter	1,978
Collateral posted	2,200	2,400
Borrowings supported by assets | Notes and bonds payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	494	394
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	494	394
2017	311
2018	116
2019	0
2020	0
2021	0
Thereafter	$ 67
Debt Instrument, Maturity, Start year	2017
Debt Instrument, Maturity, End Year	2047
Borrowings supported by assets | Notes and bonds payable | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	10.37%
Borrowings supported by assets | Notes and bonds payable | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.51%
Borrowings supported by assets | Notes and bonds payable | Series AIGFP
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	$ 32	34
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	32	34
2017	10
2018	0
2019	0
2020	0
2021	0
Thereafter	$ 22
Debt Instrument, Maturity, Start year	2017
Debt Instrument, Maturity, End Year	2047
Borrowings supported by assets | Notes and bonds payable | Series AIGFP | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.50%
Borrowings supported by assets | Notes and bonds payable | Series AIGFP | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.94%
Borrowings supported by assets | MIP notes payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	$ 1,099	1,372
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	1,099	1,372
2017	751
2018	348
2019	0
2020	0
2021	0
Thereafter	$ 0
Debt Instrument, Maturity, Start year	2017
Debt Instrument, Maturity, End Year	2018
Borrowings supported by assets | MIP notes payable | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	8.59%
Borrowings supported by assets | MIP notes payable | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.28%
Borrowings supported by assets | GIAs
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.62%
Balance at the end of the period	$ 2,934	3,276
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	2,934	3,276
2017	187
2018	486
2019	98
2020	32
2021	242
Thereafter	$ 1,889
Debt Instrument, Maturity, Start year	2017
Debt Instrument, Maturity, End Year	2047
Borrowings supported by assets | GIAs | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.62%
Borrowings supported by assets | GIAs | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.50%
Debt not guaranteed
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	$ 5,106	4,989
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	5,106	4,989
Debt not guaranteed | Other subsidiaries notes, bonds, loans and mortgages payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	735	2
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	$ 735	2
Debt Instrument, Maturity, End Year	2017
Debt not guaranteed | Other subsidiaries notes, bonds, loans and mortgages payable | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	1.15%
Debt not guaranteed | Other subsidiaries notes, bonds, loans and mortgages payable | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.73%
Debt not guaranteed | Debt of consolidated investments
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	$ 4,371	4,987
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	$ 4,371	4,987
Debt Instrument, Maturity, Start year	2017
Debt Instrument, Maturity, End Year	2062
Debt not guaranteed | Debt of consolidated investments | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	9.31%
Debt not guaranteed | Debt of consolidated investments | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.00%
Debt not guaranteed | Debt of consolidated investments | Real Estate and Investment Funds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	$ 1,900	2,400
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	1,900	2,400
Debt not guaranteed | Debt of consolidated investments | Affordable Housing Partnership [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	1,700	1,500
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	1,700	1,500
Debt not guaranteed | Debt of consolidated investments | Other
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance at the end of the period	771	1,000
Maturities of long-term debt, excluding borrowings of consolidated investments
Total	$ 771	$ 1,000