INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH OUTSTANDING DEBT (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Short-term investments	$ 22,457,000,000	$ 28,808,000,000
Other investments	335,845,000,000	347,016,000,000
Total investments	358,302,000,000	375,824,000,000
Cash	2,058,000,000	1,151,000,000	1,608,000,000	1,474,000,000
Other assets, including deferred income taxes	150,264,000,000	139,693,000,000
Assets held for sale	30,120,000,000	31,965,000,000
Total assets	540,744,000,000	548,633,000,000
Liabilities:
Insurance liabilities	273,501,000,000	280,298,000,000
Other long-term debt	42,231,000,000	48,500,000,000
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	100,049,000,000	93,466,000,000
Liabilities held for sale	25,448,000,000	27,366,000,000
Total liabilities	441,229,000,000	449,630,000,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (see Note 12)	66,000,000	334,000,000
Total AIG shareholders' equity	98,793,000,000	98,002,000,000
Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	656,000,000	667,000,000
Total equity	99,449,000,000	98,669,000,000
Total liabilities and equity	540,744,000,000	548,633,000,000
AIG (As Guarantor)
Assets:
Short-term investments	12,612,000,000	14,764,000,000
Other investments	7,361,000,000	3,902,000,000
Total investments	19,973,000,000	18,666,000,000
Cash	62,000,000	81,000,000	125,000,000	176,000,000
Loans to subsidiaries	31,376,000,000	35,064,000,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	68,252,000,000	70,781,000,000
Other assets, including deferred income taxes	26,342,000,000	23,153,000,000
Total assets	146,005,000,000	147,745,000,000
Liabilities:
Other long-term debt	31,393,000,000	36,366,000,000
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	14,908,000,000	12,375,000,000
Loans from subsidiaries	911,000,000	1,002,000,000
Total liabilities	47,212,000,000	49,743,000,000
Total AIG shareholders' equity	98,793,000,000	98,002,000,000
Total equity	98,793,000,000	98,002,000,000
Total liabilities and equity	146,005,000,000	147,745,000,000
Intercompany tax payable	8,600,000,000	6,100,000,000
Intercompany derivative liabilities	353,000,000	602,000,000
AIGLH
Assets:
Cash	5,000,000	73,000,000		13,000,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	39,624,000,000	43,891,000,000
Other assets, including deferred income taxes	97,000,000	150,000,000
Total assets	39,726,000,000	44,114,000,000
Liabilities:
Other long-term debt	1,352,000,000	1,638,000,000
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	114,000,000	261,000,000
Loans from subsidiaries	268,000,000	472,000,000
Total liabilities	1,734,000,000	2,371,000,000
Total AIG shareholders' equity	37,992,000,000	41,743,000,000
Total equity	37,992,000,000	41,743,000,000
Total liabilities and equity	39,726,000,000	44,114,000,000
Intercompany tax receivable	82,000,000	120,000,000
Other Subsidiaries
Assets:
Short-term investments	11,741,000,000	18,323,000,000
Other investments	328,484,000,000	345,706,000,000
Total investments	340,225,000,000	364,029,000,000
Cash	1,991,000,000	997,000,000
Loans to subsidiaries	955,000,000	5,169,000,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		(28,239,000,000)
Other assets, including deferred income taxes	124,712,000,000	121,345,000,000
Assets held for sale	30,120,000,000	31,965,000,000
Total assets	498,003,000,000	495,266,000,000
Liabilities:
Insurance liabilities	273,501,000,000	280,533,000,000
Other long-term debt	9,486,000,000	10,197,000,000
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	87,732,000,000	89,976,000,000
Loans from subsidiaries	31,334,000,000	41,754,000,000
Liabilities held for sale	25,448,000,000	27,366,000,000
Total liabilities	427,501,000,000	449,826,000,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (see Note 12)	66,000,000	192,000,000
Total AIG shareholders' equity	69,780,000,000	44,955,000,000
Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	656,000,000	293,000,000
Total equity	70,436,000,000	45,248,000,000
Total liabilities and equity	498,003,000,000	495,266,000,000
Reclassifications and Eliminations
Assets:
Short-term investments	(1,896,000,000)	(4,279,000,000)
Other investments		(2,592,000,000)
Total investments	(1,896,000,000)	(6,871,000,000)
Loans to subsidiaries	(32,331,000,000)	(40,233,000,000)
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	(107,876,000,000)	(86,433,000,000)
Other assets, including deferred income taxes	(887,000,000)	(4,955,000,000)
Total assets	(142,990,000,000)	(138,492,000,000)
Liabilities:
Insurance liabilities		(235,000,000)
Other long-term debt		299,000,000
Other liabilities, including intercompany balances	(2,705,000,000)	(9,146,000,000)
Loans from subsidiaries	(32,513,000,000)	(43,228,000,000)
Total liabilities	(35,218,000,000)	(52,310,000,000)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (see Note 12)		142,000,000
Total AIG shareholders' equity	(107,772,000,000)	(86,698,000,000)
Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests		374,000,000
Total equity	(107,772,000,000)	(86,324,000,000)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (142,990,000,000)	$ (138,492,000,000)