INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH OUTSTANDING DEBT (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues:
Change in fair value of ML III	$ 330	$ (931)	$ 2,888	$ (854)
Other income	17,318	13,650	50,326	47,692
Total revenues	17,648	12,719	53,214	46,838
Expenses:
Interest expense on FRBNY Credit Facility				70
Other interest expense	988	970	2,895	2,985
Net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt			32	3,392
Other expenses	14,065	16,019	41,357	44,177
Total benefits, claims and expenses	15,053	16,989	44,284	50,624
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	2,595	(4,270)	8,930	(3,786)
Income tax expense (benefit)	735	(665)	1,290	(1,187)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,860	(3,605)	7,640	(2,599)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	1	(221)	9	2,327
Net income (loss)	1,861	(3,826)	7,649	(272)
Less: Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests		145	208	538
Other	5	19	45	28
Total net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	5	164	253	566
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests				19
Total net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	5	164	253	585
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG	1,856	(3,990)	7,396	(857)
AIG
Revenues:
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	1,811	(2,604)	5,757	3,574
Change in fair value of ML III	330	(484)	2,287	(831)
Other income	373	406	1,074	639
Total revenues	2,514	(2,682)	9,118	3,382
Expenses:
Interest expense on FRBNY Credit Facility				72
Other interest expense	550	712	1,719	2,194
Net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt			9	3,331
Other expenses	173	230	1,278	502
Total benefits, claims and expenses	723	942	3,006	6,099
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	1,791	(3,624)	6,112	(2,717)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(65)	161	(1,284)	(926)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,856	(3,785)	7,396	(1,791)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(205)		934
Net income (loss)	1,856	(3,990)	7,396	(857)
Less: Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG	1,856	(3,990)	7,396	(857)
Intercompany income	59	77	191	288
Intercompany expense	4	177	140	552
SAFG, Inc.
Revenues:
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	1,612	(383)	1,716	127
Other income		831	49	1,297
Total revenues	1,612	448	1,765	1,424
Expenses:
Other interest expense	70	64	136	223
Total benefits, claims and expenses	70	64	136	223
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	1,542	384	1,629	1,201
Income tax expense (benefit)	117	(17)	580	(13)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,425	401	1,049	1,214
Net income (loss)	1,425	401	1,049	1,214
Less: Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG	1,425	401	1,049	1,214
Other Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Change in fair value of ML III		(447)	601	(23)
Other income	17,006	12,667	49,533	46,596
Total revenues	17,006	12,220	50,134	46,573
Expenses:
Other interest expense	428	448	1,368	1,408
Net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt			23	61
Other expenses	13,892	15,789	40,079	43,675
Total benefits, claims and expenses	14,320	16,237	41,470	45,144
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	2,686	(4,017)	8,664	1,429
Income tax expense (benefit)	683	(809)	1,994	(248)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	2,003	(3,208)	6,670	1,677
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	1	(16)	9	1,395
Net income (loss)	2,004	(3,224)	6,679	3,072
Less: Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Other	5	19	45	28
Total net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	5	19		28
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests				19
Total net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		19	45	47
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG	1,999	(3,243)	6,634	3,025
Reclassifications and Eliminations
Revenues:
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(3,423)	2,987	(7,473)	(3,701)
Other income	(61)	(254)	(330)	(840)
Total revenues	(3,484)	2,733	(7,803)	(4,541)
Expenses:
Interest expense on FRBNY Credit Facility				(2)
Other interest expense	(60)	(254)	(328)	(840)
Total benefits, claims and expenses	(60)	(254)	(328)	(842)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	(3,424)	2,987	(7,475)	(3,699)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(3,424)	2,987	(7,475)	(3,699)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations				(2)
Net income (loss)	(3,424)	2,987	(7,475)	(3,701)
Less: Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests		145	208	538
Total net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		145		538
Total net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		145	208	538
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG	$ (3,424)	$ 2,842	$ (7,683)	$ (4,239)