INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH OUTSTANDING DEBT (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Change in fair value of ML III		$ 1,252
Other income	15,888	16,245
Total revenues	15,888	17,497
Expenses:
Interest expense	577	565
Net (gains) losses on extinguishment of debt	340
Other expenses	12,139	12,466
Total benefits, claims and expenses	13,056	13,031
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	2,832	4,466
Income tax expense (benefit)	694	1,081
Income (loss) from continuing operations	2,138	3,385
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	93	64
Net income (loss)	2,231	3,449
Less: Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests		208
Other	25	33
Total net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	25	241
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG	2,206	3,208
AIG (As Guarantor)
Revenues:
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	1,891	2,820
Change in fair value of ML III		651
Other income	294	651
Total revenues	2,185	4,122
Expenses:
Interest expense	528	644
Net (gains) losses on extinguishment of debt	269
Other expenses	258	179
Total benefits, claims and expenses	1,055	823
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	1,130	3,299
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,080)	91
Income (loss) from continuing operations	2,210	3,208
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(4)
Net income (loss)	2,206	3,208
Less: Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG	2,206	3,208
Intercompany income	66	71
Intercompany interest expense	3	133
AIGLH
Revenues:
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	670	52
Other income		49
Total revenues	670	101
Expenses:
Interest expense	36	54
Other expenses	71
Total benefits, claims and expenses	107	54
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	563	47
Income tax expense (benefit)	(11)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	574	47
Net income (loss)	574	47
Less: Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG	574	47
Other Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Change in fair value of ML III		601
Other income	15,663	15,749
Total revenues	15,663	16,350
Expenses:
Interest expense	82	71
Net (gains) losses on extinguishment of debt	71
Other expenses	11,810	12,287
Total benefits, claims and expenses	11,963	12,358
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	3,700	3,992
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,785	990
Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,915	3,002
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	97	64
Net income (loss)	2,012	3,066
Less: Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Other		33
Total net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	25	33
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG	1,987	3,033
Reclassifications and Eliminations
Revenues:
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(2,561)	(2,872)
Other income	(69)	(204)
Total revenues	(2,630)	(3,076)
Expenses:
Interest expense	(69)	(204)
Total benefits, claims and expenses	(69)	(204)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	(2,561)	(2,872)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(2,561)	(2,872)
Net income (loss)	(2,561)	(2,872)
Less: Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests		208
Total net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		208
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG	$ (2,561)	$ (3,080)