CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY
Net gains (losses) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	$ 222	$ 552	$ 73
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests held by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York	0	74	1,800
Gains (losses) of redeemable noncontrolling interests	$ 4	$ (2)	$ 5

Amount of net income (loss) for the period allocated to noncontrolling, nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests held by Federal Reserve Bank of New York that is excluded from net income (loss) attributable to parent or other noncontrolling interests.

No definition available.

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