INVESTMENTS (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	$ 21,280	$ 12,527
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	561	308
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	6,656	8,569
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	757	1,125
Fair Value, total	27,936	21,096
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	1,318	1,433
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	4,001
Number of individual securities in continuous unrealized loss position for longer than twelve months	931
Bonds available for sale
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Fair Value, less than 12 Months	21,151	12,277
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	542	272
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	6,656	8,551
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	757	1,124
Fair Value, total	27,807	20,828
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	1,299	1,396
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	130	153
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	1	1
Fair Value, total	130	153
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	1,146	692
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	38	11
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	71	114
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	7	11
Fair Value, total	1,217	806
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	45	22
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	2,812	1,555
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	77	19
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	216	442
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	21	25
Fair Value, total	3,028	1,997
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	98	44
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	13,205	8,483
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	374	201
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	2,465	3,229
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	198	263
Fair Value, total	15,670	11,712
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	572	464
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	1,771	597
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	14	28
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,290	1,661
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	205	289
Fair Value, total	3,061	2,258
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	219	317
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	1,524	406
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	33	11
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,227	1,595
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	182	365
Fair Value, total	2,751	2,001
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	215	376
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	563	391
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	5	1
Fair Value, 12 Months or More	1,387	1,510
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More	144	171
Fair Value, total	1,950	1,901
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	149	172
Equity securities
Fair value and gross unrealized losses on AIG's available for sale securities
Number of equity securities in an unrealized loss position	114
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
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months		36
Fair Value, 12 Months or More		18
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More		1
Fair Value, total		268
Gross Unrealized Losses, total		37
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	129	247
Gross Unrealized Losses, less than 12 Months	19	36
Fair Value, 12 Months or More		18
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 Months or More		1
Fair Value, total	129	265
Gross Unrealized Losses, total	19	37
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
Fair Value, total		$ 3