CONTINGENCIES, COMMITMENTS AND GUARANTEES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	18 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 AIGFP	Nov. 29, 2012 Chartis U.S. item	Apr. 08, 2013 UGC	Sep. 16, 2013 Consolidated 2008 Securities Litigation item	Sep. 30, 2013 Consolidated 2008 Securities Litigation	May 17, 2013 Consolidated 2008 Securities Litigation item	Mar. 20, 2009 Consolidated 2008 Securities Litigation complaint	Nov. 25, 2008 ERISA Litigation II complaint	Sep. 30, 2013 Canadian Securities Class Action claim	Mar. 11, 2013 Starr International Litigation class	Sep. 30, 2013 Starr International Litigation	Aug. 26, 2013 Brookfield litigation related to AIGFP	Sep. 30, 2013 Fitzpatrick matter item	Feb. 25, 2010 False Claims Act complaint individual	Sep. 30, 2013 False Claims Act complaint multiple	Sep. 30, 2013 Caremark complaint	Sep. 30, 2012 Use of SSDMF
LITIGATION, INVESTIGATIONS AND REGULATORY MATTERS
Number of purported class action complaints							8	8								2
Number of similar actions				4		5
Number of foreign funds that are plaintiffs in similar actions				12		8
Notice period for purported class action complaints consolidated					30 days
Number of funds that are plaintiffs in similar actions				25
Damages claimed									$ 500							$ 3,200
Punitive damages claimed									50
Percentage of ownership in AIG received by Department of the Treasury											80.00%
Damages claimed, amount currently due													274
Number of buildings sold													8
Number of buildings sold but not owned by the entity													1
Range of loss, maximum													274
Number of individuals (Relators) seeking to assert claims														2
Damages sought, multiple of damages sustained															3
Number of purported classes										2
Amount agreed to the consensual termination of the swap agreement												905
Payments for regulatory assessment																	11
Carrying value of swap agreement	900
Settlement agreement, number of jurisdictions		50
Civil penalty paid		$ 50.0	$ 4.5