EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Numerator for EPS:
Income (loss) from continuing operations									$ 9,008,000,000	$ 3,699,000,000	$ 18,863,000,000
Less: Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Nonvoting, callable, junior and senior preferred interests								208,000,000		208,000,000	634,000,000
Other	(5,000,000)	(40,000,000)	27,000,000	25,000,000	9,000,000	5,000,000	7,000,000	33,000,000	7,000,000	54,000,000	55,000,000
Total net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests									7,000,000	262,000,000	689,000,000
Deemed dividends to AIG Series E and F Preferred Stock											(812,000,000)
Income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders from continuing operations.									9,001,000,000	3,437,000,000	17,362,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	11,000,000	(18,000,000)	18,000,000	73,000,000	(8,000,000)	1,000,000	(5,000,000)	13,000,000	84,000,000	1,000,000	2,467,000,000
Less: Net income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests											19,000,000
Income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders from discontinued operations									84,000,000	1,000,000	2,448,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG common shareholders									9,085,000,000	3,438,000,000	19,810,000,000
Denominator for EPS:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	1,468,725,573	1,475,053,126	1,476,512,720	1,476,471,097	1,476,457,586	1,642,472,814	1,756,689,067	1,875,972,970	1,474,171,690	1,687,197,038	1,799,385,757
Dilutive shares									7,035,107	29,603	72,740
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	1,480,654,482	1,485,322,858	1,482,246,618	1,476,678,931	1,476,457,586	1,642,502,251	1,756,714,475	1,876,002,775	1,481,206,797	1,687,226,641	1,799,458,497
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.34	$ 1.48	$ 1.84	$ 1.44	$ (2.68)	$ 1.13	$ 1.33	$ 1.70	$ 6.11	$ 2.04	$ 9.65
Income (loss) from discontinued operations - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ (0.01)	$ 0.01	$ 0.05				$ 0.01	$ 0.05		$ 1.36
Net Income (loss) attributable to AIG - basic (in dollars per share)									$ 6.16	$ 2.04	$ 11.01
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.33	$ 1.47	$ 1.83	$ 1.44	$ (2.68)	$ 1.13	$ 1.33	$ 1.70	$ 6.08	$ 2.04	$ 9.65
Income (loss) from discontinued operations - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ (0.01)	$ 0.01	$ 0.05				$ 0.01	$ 0.05		$ 1.36
Net Income (loss) attributable to AIG - diluted (in dollars per share)									$ 6.13	$ 2.04	$ 11.01
Number of shares, warrants, and options excluded from diluted shares outstanding because the effect would have been anti-dilutive									38,000,000	78,000,000	76,000,000
Common stock included in consideration transferred to the Department of the Treasury (in shares)											1,092,169,866
Redeemable SPV Preferred Interests included in consideration transferred to the Department of the Treasury											$ 20,200,000,000