SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	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 segment	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment results
Number of reportable segments									2
Total Revenues	$ 17,346	$ 15,944	$ 18,426	$ 16,962	$ 17,169	$ 17,865	$ 17,338	$ 18,649	$ 68,678	$ 71,021	$ 65,105
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Charges									327	1,167	1,280
Net (gain) loss on sale of properties and divested businesses	(1)		(47)		(6,733)			(3)	48	6,736	74
Interest Expense									2,142	2,319	2,444
Depreciation and Amortization									4,713	7,349	7,372
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	2,150	1,178	3,165	2,875	(6,039)	2,595	1,751	4,584	9,368	2,891	(901)
Year-End Identifiable Assets	541,329				548,633				541,329	548,633
Capital Expenditures									2,732	2,851
Reportable segment | Total AIG Property Casualty
Segment results
Number of operating segments									2
Total Revenues									39,709	39,954	40,977
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Charges									53	378	274
Interest Expense									14	10	7
Depreciation and Amortization									4,527	4,856	4,701
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									5,133	2,023	2,100
Year-End Identifiable Assets	167,874				178,726				167,874	178,726
Capital Expenditures									349	321
Reportable segment | Total AIG Property Casualty | Operating segments | Commercial Insurance
Segment results
Total Revenues									23,137	23,569	24,291
Interest Expense									7	5	3
Depreciation and Amortization									2,393	2,736	2,865
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									2,398	877	1,269
Reportable segment | Total AIG Property Casualty | Operating segments | Consumer Insurance
Segment results
Total Revenues									13,601	14,403	14,109
Interest Expense									6	4	4
Depreciation and Amortization									2,133	2,121	1,836
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									317	292	(44)
Reportable segment | Total AIG Property Casualty | Other
Segment results
Total Revenues									2,971	1,982	1,947
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Charges									53	378	274
Interest Expense									1	1
Depreciation and Amortization									1	(1)
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									2,418	854	875
Reportable segment | Total AIG Life and Retirement
Segment results
Number of operating segments									2	2
Total Revenues									20,590	17,645	16,163
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Charges									272	724	977
Interest Expense									5
Depreciation and Amortization									(134)	213	691
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									6,505	3,780	2,956
Year-End Identifiable Assets	283,457				275,674				283,457	275,674
Capital Expenditures									62	60
Reportable segment | Total AIG Life and Retirement | Consolidation and elimination of reconciling items
Segment results
Year-End Identifiable Assets	(1,593)				(6,769)				(1,593)	(6,769)
Reportable segment | Total AIG Life and Retirement | Operating segments | Retail
Segment results
Total Revenues									12,715	10,471	10,079
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Charges									130	469	612
Interest Expense									3
Depreciation and Amortization									(76)	159	515
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									4,363	2,068	1,382
Year-End Identifiable Assets	161,098				157,855				161,098	157,855
Capital Expenditures									35	45
Reportable segment | Total AIG Life and Retirement | Operating segments | Institutional
Segment results
Total Revenues									7,875	7,174	6,084
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Charges									142	255	365
Interest Expense									2
Depreciation and Amortization									(58)	54	176
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									2,142	1,712	1,574
Year-End Identifiable Assets	123,952				124,588				123,952	124,588
Capital Expenditures									27	15
AIG Consolidation and elimination
Segment results
Total Revenues									(514)	(1,141)	(561)
Net (gain) loss on sale of properties and divested businesses										19
Interest Expense									(328)	(297)	(298)
Depreciation and Amortization									(26)	(2)
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									179	(222)	31
Year-End Identifiable Assets	(105,855)				(101,630)				(105,855)	(101,630)
Other Operations
Segment results
Total Revenues									8,893	14,563	8,526
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Charges									2	65	29
Net (gain) loss on sale of properties and divested businesses									48	6,717	74
Interest Expense									2,451	2,606	2,735
Depreciation and Amortization									346	2,282	1,980
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									(2,449)	(2,690)	(5,988)
Year-End Identifiable Assets	195,883				195,863				195,883	195,863
Capital Expenditures									2,321	2,470
Other Operations | Mortgage Guaranty
Segment results
Total Revenues									949	867	944
Depreciation and Amortization									50	44	44
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									213	15	(77)
Year-End Identifiable Assets	4,361				5,270				4,361	5,270
Capital Expenditures									25	11
Other Operations | Global Capital Markets
Segment results
Total Revenues									833	745	266
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									625	553	(7)
Year-End Identifiable Assets	6,406				7,050				6,406	7,050
Other Operations | Direct Investment book
Segment results
Total Revenues									1,937	2,024	1,004
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Charges									3	60	25
Interest Expense									353	369	367
Depreciation and Amortization									(80)	(121)	(218)
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									1,544	1,632	622
Year-End Identifiable Assets	23,541				28,528				23,541	28,528
Other Operations | Retained Interests
Segment results
Total Revenues										4,957	486
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations										4,957	486
Other Operations | Corporate and Other
Segment results
Total Revenues									792	1,522	1,405
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Charges									(1)	5	4
Net (gain) loss on sale of properties and divested businesses									48	6,717	74
Interest Expense									2,112	2,264	2,388
Depreciation and Amortization									300	317	206
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									(4,706)	(10,186)	(6,007)
Year-End Identifiable Assets	88,270				91,772				88,270	91,772
Capital Expenditures									413	680
Other Operations | Aircraft Leasing
Segment results
Total Revenues									4,420	4,500	4,457
Depreciation and Amortization									76	2,042	1,948
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									(129)	339	(1,005)
Year-End Identifiable Assets	39,313				39,812				39,313	39,812
Capital Expenditures									1,883	1,779
Other Operations | Consolidation and elimination of reconciling items
Segment results
Total Revenues									(38)	(52)	(36)
Interest Expense									(14)	(27)	(20)
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations									4
Year-End Identifiable Assets	$ 33,992				$ 23,431				$ 33,992	$ 23,431