INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH OUTSTANDING DEBT (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Short-term investments	$ 23,336,000,000	$ 28,808,000,000
Other investments	346,363,000,000	347,016,000,000
Total investments	369,699,000,000	375,824,000,000
Cash	1,227,000,000	1,151,000,000	1,315,000,000	1,474,000,000
Other assets, including current and deferred income taxes	146,138,000,000	139,693,000,000
Assets held for sale	31,816,000,000	31,965,000,000
Total assets	548,880,000,000	548,633,000,000
Liabilities:
Insurance liabilities	278,001,000,000	280,298,000,000
Other long-term debt	45,266,000,000	48,500,000,000
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	97,878,000,000	93,466,000,000
Liabilities held for sale	27,164,000,000	27,366,000,000
Total liabilities	448,309,000,000	449,630,000,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (see Note 12)	388,000,000	334,000,000
Total AIG shareholders' equity	99,520,000,000	98,002,000,000
Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	663,000,000	667,000,000
Total equity	100,183,000,000	98,669,000,000
Total liabilities and equity	548,880,000,000	548,633,000,000
AIG (As Guarantor)
Assets:
Short-term investments	11,804,000,000	14,764,000,000
Other investments	5,859,000,000	3,902,000,000
Total investments	17,663,000,000	18,666,000,000
Cash	58,000,000	81,000,000	86,000,000	176,000,000
Loans to subsidiaries	33,402,000,000	35,064,000,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	71,746,000,000	70,781,000,000
Other assets, including current and deferred income taxes	23,960,000,000	23,153,000,000
Total assets	146,829,000,000	147,745,000,000
Liabilities:
Other long-term debt	33,764,000,000	36,366,000,000
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	12,446,000,000	12,375,000,000
Loans from subsidiaries	1,099,000,000	1,002,000,000
Total liabilities	47,309,000,000	49,743,000,000
Total AIG shareholders' equity	99,520,000,000	98,002,000,000
Total equity	99,520,000,000	98,002,000,000
Total liabilities and equity	146,829,000,000	147,745,000,000
Intercompany tax payable	5,500,000,000	6,100,000,000
Intercompany derivative liabilities	622,000,000	602,000,000
AIGLH
Assets:
Cash		73,000,000		13,000,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	42,705,000,000	43,891,000,000
Other assets, including current and deferred income taxes	155,000,000	150,000,000
Total assets	42,860,000,000	44,114,000,000
Liabilities:
Other long-term debt	1,393,000,000	1,638,000,000
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	149,000,000	261,000,000
Loans from subsidiaries	379,000,000	472,000,000
Total liabilities	1,921,000,000	2,371,000,000
Total AIG shareholders' equity	40,939,000,000	41,743,000,000
Total equity	40,939,000,000	41,743,000,000
Total liabilities and equity	42,860,000,000	44,114,000,000
Intercompany tax receivable	85,000,000	120,000,000
Other Subsidiaries
Assets:
Short-term investments	17,267,000,000	18,323,000,000
Other investments	342,578,000,000	345,706,000,000
Total investments	359,845,000,000	364,029,000,000
Cash	1,169,000,000	997,000,000
Loans to subsidiaries	6,523,000,000	5,169,000,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	(26,859,000,000)	(28,239,000,000)
Other assets, including current and deferred income taxes	128,383,000,000	121,345,000,000
Assets held for sale	31,818,000,000	31,965,000,000
Total assets	500,879,000,000	495,266,000,000
Liabilities:
Insurance liabilities	278,241,000,000	280,533,000,000
Other long-term debt	11,861,000,000	10,197,000,000
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	96,877,000,000	89,976,000,000
Loans from subsidiaries	38,630,000,000	41,754,000,000
Liabilities held for sale	27,164,000,000	27,366,000,000
Total liabilities	452,773,000,000	449,826,000,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (see Note 12)	260,000,000	192,000,000
Total AIG shareholders' equity	47,191,000,000	44,955,000,000
Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	655,000,000	293,000,000
Total equity	47,846,000,000	45,248,000,000
Total liabilities and equity	500,879,000,000	495,266,000,000
Reclassifications and Eliminations
Assets:
Short-term investments	(5,735,000,000)	(4,279,000,000)
Other investments	(2,074,000,000)	(2,592,000,000)
Total investments	(7,809,000,000)	(6,871,000,000)
Loans to subsidiaries	(39,925,000,000)	(40,233,000,000)
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	(87,592,000,000)	(86,433,000,000)
Other assets, including current and deferred income taxes	(6,360,000,000)	(4,955,000,000)
Assets held for sale	(2,000,000)
Total assets	(141,688,000,000)	(138,492,000,000)
Liabilities:
Insurance liabilities	(240,000,000)	(235,000,000)
Other long-term debt	(1,752,000,000)	299,000,000
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	(11,594,000,000)	(9,146,000,000)
Loans from subsidiaries	(40,108,000,000)	(43,228,000,000)
Total liabilities	(53,694,000,000)	(52,310,000,000)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (see Note 12)	128,000,000	142,000,000
Total AIG shareholders' equity	(88,130,000,000)	(86,698,000,000)
Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	8,000,000	374,000,000
Total equity	(88,122,000,000)	(86,324,000,000)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (141,688,000,000)	$ (138,492,000,000)