TOTAL EQUITY AND EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE (Details 5) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Numerator for EPS:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 3,436,000,000	$ (1,084,000,000)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests	208,000,000	252,000,000
Other	33,000,000	(55,000,000)
Total net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	241,000,000	197,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG from continuing operations	3,195,000,000	(1,281,000,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	13,000,000	2,585,000,000
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		7,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG from discontinued operations, applicable to common stock for EPS	13,000,000	2,578,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders from continuing operations, applicable to common stock for EPS	3,195,000,000	(2,093,000,000)
Denominator for EPS:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	1,875,972,970	1,557,748,353
Dilutive shares	29,805
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	1,876,002,775	1,557,748,353
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.70	$ (1.34)
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 1.65
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.70	$ (1.34)
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 1.65
Number of shares and warrants excluded from diluted shares outstanding because the effect would have been anti-dilutive	78,000,000	65,000,000
Common stock included in consideration transferred to the Department of the Treasury (in shares)	1,092,169,866
Redeemable SPV Preferred Interests included in consideration transferred to the Department of the Treasury	20,200,000,000
Warrants to purchase AIG Common Stock
Diluted:
Number of shares and warrants excluded from diluted shares outstanding because the effect would have been anti-dilutive	75,000,000	59,000,000
Series E and F
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Deemed dividend to AIG Preferred Stock		$ (812,000,000)
Series C
Diluted:
Exchange of preferred stock for common stock in connection with recapitalization (in shares)	562,868,096
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 5.00
Series E
Diluted:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 5.00
Series F
Diluted:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 5.00