INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH OUTSTANDING DEBT (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities - continuing operations	$ 1,924	$ 590
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities - discontinued operations	2,024	2,249
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	3,948	2,839
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sales of investments	58,672	74,937
Purchase of investments	(59,213)	(56,048)
Net change in restricted cash	977	651
Net change in short-term investments	6,801	1,800
Other, net	(869)	(177)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations	6,368	21,163
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued operations	150	(2,005)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	6,518	19,158
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term debt	1,742	4,504
Repayments of long-term debt	(7,381)	(6,171)
Purchase of Common Stock	(192)	(13,000)
Cash dividends paid	(147)
Other, net	(1,328)	(6,915)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - continuing operations	(7,306)	(21,582)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - discontinued operations	(2,166)	(272)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(9,472)	(21,854)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(79)	(9)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	915	134
Cash at beginning of year	1,151	1,474
Reclassification to assets held for sale	(8)
Cash at end of period	2,058	1,608
Interest:
Third party	(2,951)	(3,056)
Taxes:
Income tax authorities	(378)	(403)
AIG
CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities - continuing operations	3,078	1,275
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	3,078	1,275
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sales of investments	1,065	9,806
Purchase of investments	(4,981)	(4,339)
Loans to subsidiaries - net	3,491	1,730
Contributions to subsidiaries - net	(240)	954
Net change in restricted cash	428	(381)
Net change in short-term investments	2,552	4,881
Other, net	194	252
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations	2,509	12,903
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	2,509	12,903
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term debt	1,020	3,754
Repayments of long-term debt	(5,866)	(2,995)
Purchase of Common Stock	(192)	(13,000)
Intercompany loans - net	(89)	(1,944)
Cash dividends paid	(147)
Other, net	(332)	(44)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - continuing operations	(5,606)	(14,229)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(5,606)	(14,229)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(19)	(51)
Cash at beginning of year	81	176
Cash at end of period	62	125
Interest:
Third party	(1,473)	(1,535)
Intercompany	(9)	(129)
Taxes:
Income tax authorities	(160)	(6)
Intercompany	1,116	884
Non-cash financing and investing activities:
Capital contributions in the form of bond available for sale securities		959
Capital contributions to subsidiaries through forgiveness of loans	341
Return of capital and dividend received in the form of cancellation of intercompany loan		9,303
Return of capital and dividend received in the form of bond trading securities		3,320
Other capital contributions - net	523	339
AIGLH
CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities - continuing operations	3,082	2,243
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	3,082	2,243
Cash flows from investing activities:
Contributions to subsidiaries - net	(1)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations	(1)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	(245)
Intercompany loans - net	(205)	(2,256)
Cash dividends paid	(2,699)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - continuing operations	(3,149)	(2,256)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(3,149)	(2,256)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(68)	(13)
Cash at beginning of year	73	13
Cash at end of period	5
Interest:
Third party	(98)	(109)
Intercompany	(21)	(49)
Taxes:
Intercompany	(78)	(41)
Other Subsidiaries and Eliminations
CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities - continuing operations	(4,236)	(2,928)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities - discontinued operations	2,024	2,249
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(2,212)	(679)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sales of investments	57,607	65,131
Purchase of investments	(54,232)	(51,709)
Loans to subsidiaries - net	(3,491)	(1,730)
Contributions to subsidiaries - net	241	(954)
Net change in restricted cash	549	1,032
Net change in short-term investments	4,249	(3,081)
Other, net	(1,063)	(429)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations	3,860	8,260
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued operations	150	(2,005)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	4,010	6,255
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term debt	722	750
Repayments of long-term debt	(1,270)	(3,176)
Intercompany loans - net	294	4,200
Cash dividends paid	2,699
Other, net	(996)	(6,871)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - continuing operations	1,449	(5,097)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - discontinued operations	(2,166)	(272)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(717)	(5,369)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(79)	(9)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	1,002	198
Cash at beginning of year	997	1,285
Reclassification to assets held for sale	(8)
Cash at end of period	1,991	1,483
Interest:
Third party	(1,380)	(1,412)
Intercompany	30	178
Taxes:
Income tax authorities	(218)	(397)
Intercompany	$ (1,038)	$ (843)