INVESTMENTS (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012 security	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	$ 23,035	$ 37,024
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	994	2,056
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	11,616	14,554
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	1,905	2,955
Fair Value, total	34,651	51,578
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	2,899	5,011
Number of individual fixed maturity securities in continuous unrealized loss position for longer than twelve months	1,734
Fixed maturity securities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Number of individual fixed maturity securities	5,061
Bonds available for sale
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	22,384	36,408
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	895	1,955
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	11,616	14,554
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	1,905	2,955
Fair Value, total	34,000	50,962
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	2,800	4,910
Bonds available for sale | U.S. government and government sponsored entities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	159	142
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	1	1
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	5
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	1
Fair Value, total	164	142
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	2	1
Bonds available for sale | Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	996	174
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	24	1
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	276	669
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	47	72
Fair Value, total	1,272	843
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	71	73
Bonds available for sale | Non-U.S. government
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	2,366	3,992
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	20	67
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	333	424
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	30	35
Fair Value, total	2,699	4,416
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	50	102
Bonds available for sale | Corporate debt
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	11,962	18,099
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	378	937
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	5,015	5,907
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	532	788
Fair Value, total	16,977	24,006
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	910	1,725
Bonds available for sale | Residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	4,322	10,624
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	242	714
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	2,933	4,148
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	528	849
Fair Value, total	7,255	14,772
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	770	1,563
Bonds available for sale | Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	1,527	1,697
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	187	185
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,373	1,724
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	494	788
Fair Value, total	2,900	3,421
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	681	973
Bonds available for sale | Collateralized Debt Obligations/Asset Backed Securities (CDO/ABS)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	1,052	1,680
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	43	50
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,681	1,682
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	273	423
Fair Value, total	2,733	3,362
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	316	473
Equity securities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Number of equity securities in an unrealized loss position	248
Equity securities available for sale
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	651	616
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	99	101
Fair Value, total	651	616
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	99	101
Equity securities available for sale | Common Stock
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	646	608
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	99	100
Fair Value, total	646	608
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	99	100
Equity securities available for sale | Preferred Stock
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	2	6
Fair Value, total	2	6
Equity securities available for sale | Mutual Funds
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	3	2
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months		1
Fair Value, total	3	2
Gross Unrealized Losses, total		$ 1