HELD-FOR-SALE CLASSIFICATION AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 09, 2012 International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC)	Dec. 31, 2012 International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC)	Mar. 31, 2013 International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC)	Mar. 31, 2013 Discontinued operations	Mar. 31, 2012 Discontinued operations	Mar. 31, 2013 International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC)	Mar. 31, 2013 ALICO	Mar. 31, 2013 Assets held-for-sale	Dec. 31, 2012 Assets held-for-sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations
Percentage of common stock agreed to be sold					80.10%
Additional percentage of common stock under purchase option					9.90%
Additional consideration for common stock under purchase option					$ 522,500,000
Period for exercising option to purchase additional common stock					10 days
Percentage of ownership interest retained on exercise of purchase option					10.00%
Percentage of ownership interest retained					19.90%
Percentage of ownership interest on exercise of purchase option					9.40%
Consideration in cash					4,200,000,000
Amount to be returned by the entity at the closing of the transaction in connection with the termination of intercompany arrangements							1,100,000,000
Assets:
Equity securities	3,108,000,000		3,212,000,000									2,000,000	1,000,000
Mortgage and other loans receivable, net												118,000,000	117,000,000
Flight equipment primarily under operating leases, net of accumulated depreciation												34,810,000,000	34,468,000,000
Short-term investments	23,336,000,000		28,808,000,000									2,103,000,000	1,861,000,000
Cash	1,227,000,000	1,315,000,000	1,151,000,000	1,474,000,000								48,000,000	63,000,000
Premiums and other receivables, net of allowance	15,310,000,000		13,989,000,000									291,000,000	308,000,000
Other assets	10,069,000,000		10,399,000,000									1,714,000,000	1,864,000,000
Assets of businesses held for sale												39,086,000,000	38,682,000,000
Less: Loss Accrual												(7,270,000,000)	(6,717,000,000)
Total assets held for sale	31,816,000,000		31,965,000,000									31,816,000,000	31,965,000,000
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	33,108,000,000		32,068,000,000									3,050,000,000	3,043,000,000
Other long-term debt	45,266,000,000		48,500,000,000									24,114,000,000	24,323,000,000
Total liabilities held for sale	27,164,000,000		27,366,000,000									27,164,000,000	27,366,000,000
Revenues:
Aircraft leasing revenue								1,078,000,000	1,156,000,000
Net realized capital gains (losses)	300,000,000	(251,000,000)						(1,000,000)	1,000,000
Other income (loss)	1,437,000,000	589,000,000						(3,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Total revenues	15,888,000,000	17,497,000,000						1,074,000,000	1,152,000,000
Benefits, claims and expenses, excluding Aircraft leasing expenses								388,000,000	409,000,000
Aircraft leasing expenses								90,000,000	625,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations								596,000,000	118,000,000
Gain (loss) on sale								(436,000,000)	20,000,000	(553,000,000)	117,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, before tax expense (benefit)								160,000,000	138,000,000
Income tax expense (benefit)								67,000,000	74,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax	$ 93,000,000	$ 64,000,000				$ (4,400,000,000)		$ 93,000,000	$ 64,000,000