INVESTMENTS (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	$ 12,527	$ 37,024
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	308	2,056
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	8,569	14,554
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	1,125	2,955
Fair Value, total	21,096	51,578
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	1,433	5,011
Fixed maturity securities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Number of individual fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position	3,637
Number of individual securities in continuous unrealized loss position for longer than twelve months	1,385
Bonds available for sale
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	12,277	36,408
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	272	1,955
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	8,551	14,554
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	1,124	2,955
Fair Value, total	20,828	50,962
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	1,396	4,910
Bonds available for sale | U.S. government and government sponsored entities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	153	142
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	1	1
Fair Value, total	153	142
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	1	1
Bonds available for sale | Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	692	174
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	11	1
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	114	669
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	11	72
Fair Value, total	806	843
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	22	73
Bonds available for sale | Non-U.S. government
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	1,555	3,992
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	19	67
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	442	424
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	25	35
Fair Value, total	1,997	4,416
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	44	102
Bonds available for sale | Corporate debt
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	8,483	18,099
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	201	937
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	3,229	5,907
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	263	788
Fair Value, total	11,712	24,006
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	464	1,725
Bonds available for sale | Residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	597	10,624
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	28	714
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,661	4,148
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	289	849
Fair Value, total	2,258	14,772
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	317	1,563
Bonds available for sale | Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	406	1,697
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	11	185
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,595	1,724
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	365	788
Fair Value, total	2,001	3,421
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	376	973
Bonds available for sale | Collateralized Debt Obligations/Asset Backed Securities (CDO/ABS)
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	391	1,680
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	1	50
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,510	1,682
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	171	423
Fair Value, total	1,901	3,362
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	172	473
Equity securities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Number of equity securities in an unrealized loss position	198
Equity securities available for sale
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	250	616
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	36	101
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	18
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	1
Fair Value, total	268	616
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	37	101
Equity securities available for sale | Common Stock
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	247	608
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	36	100
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	18
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	1
Fair Value, total	265	608
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	37	100
Equity securities available for sale | Preferred Stock
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months		6
Fair Value, total		6
Equity securities available for sale | Mutual Funds
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	3	2
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months		1
Fair Value, total	3	2
Gross Unrealized Losses, total		$ 1