CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Parenthetical - equity) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
AIG shareholders' equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 2.50	$ 2.50
Common stock, shares authorized	5,000,000,000	5,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	1,906,612,666	1,906,568,099
Treasury stock, shares of common stock	430,316,923	9,746,617