EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE (EPS) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Numerator for EPS:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 1,860,000,000	$ (3,605,000,000)	$ 7,640,000,000	$ (2,599,000,000)
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests		145,000,000	208,000,000	538,000,000
Other	5,000,000	19,000,000	45,000,000	28,000,000
Total net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,000,000	164,000,000	253,000,000	566,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG from continuing operations	1,855,000,000	(3,769,000,000)	7,387,000,000	(3,165,000,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	1,000,000	(221,000,000)	9,000,000	2,327,000,000
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests				19,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG from discontinued operations, applicable to common stock for EPS	1,000,000	(221,000,000)	9,000,000	2,308,000,000
Deemed dividend to AIG Preferred Stock				(812,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders from continuing operations, applicable to common stock for EPS	1,855,000,000	(3,769,000,000)	7,387,000,000	(3,977,000,000)
Denominator for EPS:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	1,642,472,814	1,899,500,628	1,757,955,937	1,765,905,779
Dilutive shares	29,437		28,217
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	1,642,502,251	1,899,500,628	1,757,984,154	1,765,905,779
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ (1.99)	$ 4.21	$ (2.25)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.11)		$ 1.30
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ (1.99)	$ 4.21	$ (2.25)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.11)		$ 1.30
Number of shares and warrants excluded from diluted shares outstanding because the effect would have been anti-dilutive	78,000,000	79,000,000	78,000,000	75,000,000
Common stock included in consideration transferred to the Department of the Treasury (in shares)	1,092,169,866		1,092,169,866
Redeemable SPV Preferred Interests included in consideration transferred to the Department of the Treasury	20,200,000,000		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	75,000,000	75,000,000	70,000,000
Series C
Diluted:
Exchange of preferred stock for common stock in connection with recapitalization (in shares)	562,868,096		562,868,096
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 5.00		$ 5.00
Series E
Diluted:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 5.00		$ 5.00
Series F
Diluted:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 5.00		$ 5.00
Series E and F
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Deemed dividend to AIG Preferred Stock				$ (812,000,000)