EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Pensions
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$ 53	$ 54	$ 155	$ 166
Interest cost	57	63	174	186
Expected return on assets	(65)	(70)	(195)	(209)
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost	(9)	(1)	(28)	(2)
Amortization of net (gain) loss	32	12	97	42
Other		6		6
Net periodic benefit cost	68	64	203	189
Contributed to pension plans			76
Estimates additional contribution to pension plans for the remainder of 2012	15		15
Pensions | AIG Star and AIG Edison
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Net periodic benefit cost		2		13
U.S. Pension Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	40	40	116	114
Interest cost	49	54	149	158
Expected return on assets	(60)	(64)	(180)	(190)
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost	(8)		(25)	1
Amortization of net (gain) loss	29	9	87	30
Net periodic benefit cost	50	39	147	113
Non U.S. Pension Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	13	14	39	52
Interest cost	8	9	25	28
Expected return on assets	(5)	(6)	(15)	(19)
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost	(1)	(1)	(3)	(3)
Amortization of net (gain) loss	3	3	10	12
Other		6		6
Net periodic benefit cost	18	25	56	76
Non U.S. Pension Plans | AIG Star and AIG Edison
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Net periodic benefit cost		2		13
Postretirement Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	2	4	6	10
Interest cost	4	4	10	12
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost	(3)		(8)	1
Other	(1)		(1)
Net periodic benefit cost	2	8	7	23
Postretirement Plans | AIG Star and AIG Edison
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Net periodic benefit cost		1		2
U.S. Postretirement Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	1	3	4	7
Interest cost	3	3	8	10
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost	(3)		(8)	1
Net periodic benefit cost	1	6	4	18
Non U.S. Postretirement Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	1	1	2	3
Interest cost	1	1	2	2
Other	(1)		(1)
Net periodic benefit cost	1	2	3	5
Non U.S. Postretirement Plans | AIG Star and AIG Edison
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Net periodic benefit cost		$ 1		$ 2