Represents the amount outstanding under standby letter of credit at end of period.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_AmountOutstandingStandbyLetterOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount released from escrow to the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_EscrowAmountReleased
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the required amount of escrow deposits at the end of the escrow period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_EscrowBalanceAtTerminationOfEscrowPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of the deductible for a guarantee obligation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_GuaranteeObligationsExposure
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aig_GuaranteeObligationsMinimumExposure
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The designation of funds furnished by a borrower to a lender to assure future payments of the borrower's real estate taxes and insurance obligations with respect to a mortgaged property. Escrow deposits may be made for a variety of other purposes such as earnest money and contingent payments. This element excludes replacement reserves which are an escrow separately provided for within the US GAAP taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EscrowDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

CONTINGENCIES, COMMITMENTS AND GUARANTEES (Details 3)	9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
CONTINGENCIES, COMMITMENTS AND GUARANTEES (Details 3)	Sep. 30, 2012 MetLife Inc. (MetLife) USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Standby letters of credit USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Indemnification related to breaches of general representations and warranties AIG Star and AIG Edison USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Indemnification related to breaches of general representations and warranties AIG Star and AIG Edison JPY (¥)	Sep. 30, 2012 Tax indemnification MetLife Inc. (MetLife) USD ($)
Guarantees
Amount outstanding under standby letters of credit at end of period		$ 322,000,000
Aggregate deductible amount under guarantee					50,000,000
Maximum amount exposed under guarantee			1,300,000,000	102,000,000,000	200,000,000
Payments made or placed in escrow accounts at end of period	600,000,000
Amount required to be held in escrow	0
Minimum amount exposed under guarantee			52,600,000	4,100,000,000
Amount released in accordance with the MetLife escrow agreement from the sale of ALICO	$ 950,000,000