INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH OUTSTANDING DEBT (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Change in fair value of ML III	$ 1,252	$ 744
Other income	17,191	16,695
Total revenues	18,443	17,439
Expenses:
Interest expense on FRBNY Credit Facility		70
Other interest expense	953	991
Net loss on extinguishment of debt	21	3,313
Other expenses	12,885	14,375
Total benefits, claims and expenses	13,859	18,749
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	4,584	(1,310)
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,148	(226)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	3,436	(1,084)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	13	2,585
Net income	3,449	1,501
Less: Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests	208	252
Other	33	(55)
Total net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	241	197
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		7
Total net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	241	204
Net income attributable to AIG	3,208	1,297
AIG
Revenues:
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	2,820	3,992
Change in fair value of ML III	651
Other income	651	41
Total revenues	4,122	4,033
Expenses:
Interest expense on FRBNY Credit Facility		72
Other interest expense	644	751
Net loss on extinguishment of debt		3,313
Other expenses	179	47
Total benefits, claims and expenses	823	4,183
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	3,299	(150)
Income tax expense (benefit)	91	(316)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	3,208	166
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		1,131
Net income	3,208	1,297
Less: Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net income attributable to AIG	3,208	1,297
Intercompany income	71	146
Intercompany expense	133	195
SAFG, Inc.
Revenues:
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(1,336)	336
Other income	1,437	258
Total revenues	101	594
Expenses:
Other interest expense	54	94
Total benefits, claims and expenses	54	94
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	47	500
Income tax expense (benefit)		81
Income (loss) from continuing operations	47	419
Net income	47	419
Less: Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net income attributable to AIG	47	419
Other Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Change in fair value of ML III	601	744
Other income	15,307	16,737
Total revenues	15,908	17,481
Expenses:
Other interest expense	459	487
Net loss on extinguishment of debt	21
Other expenses	12,706	14,328
Total benefits, claims and expenses	13,186	14,815
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	2,722	2,666
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,057	9
Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,665	2,657
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	13	1,456
Net income	1,678	4,113
Less: Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Other	33	(55)
Total net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		(55)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		7
Total net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	33	(48)
Net income attributable to AIG	1,645	4,161
Reclassifications and Eliminations
Revenues:
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(1,484)	(4,328)
Other income	(204)	(341)
Total revenues	(1,688)	(4,669)
Expenses:
Interest expense on FRBNY Credit Facility		(2)
Other interest expense	(204)	(341)
Total benefits, claims and expenses	(204)	(343)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	(1,484)	(4,326)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(1,484)	(4,326)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(2)
Net income	(1,484)	(4,328)
Less: Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests	208	252
Total net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		252
Total net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	208	252
Net income attributable to AIG	$ (1,692)	$ (4,580)