Securitization Activities (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Securitizations :
Securitization of residential mortgages	$ 14,602	$ 13,461	$ 22,305	$ 23,420
Securitization of commercial mortgages			325
Securitization of other financial assets	49		81	14
Securitization of financial assets	14,651	13,461	22,711	23,434
Cash flows received on retained interests	148	218	367	417
Firms continuing involvement in securitization entities to which the firm sold assets [Abstract]
Outstanding principal amount	92,868		92,868		91,582
Fair value of retained interests	5,682		5,682		6,965
Fair value of purchased interests	478		478		316
U.S. government agency-issued collateralized mortgage obligations [Member]
Firms continuing involvement in securitization entities to which the firm sold assets [Abstract]
Outstanding principal amount	64,929		64,929		60,352
Fair value of retained interests	4,739		4,739		5,929
Fair value of purchased interests	0		0		0
Other residential mortgage-backed [Member]
Firms continuing involvement in securitization entities to which the firm sold assets [Abstract]
Outstanding principal amount	11,166		11,166		13,318
Fair value of retained interests	129		129		125
Fair value of purchased interests	5		5		5
Commercial mortgage-backed [Member]
Firms continuing involvement in securitization entities to which the firm sold assets [Abstract]
Outstanding principal amount	4,642		4,642		5,040
Fair value of retained interests	753		753		849
Fair value of purchased interests	272		272		82
CDOs, CLOs and others [Member]
Firms continuing involvement in securitization entities to which the firm sold assets [Abstract]
Outstanding principal amount	12,131		12,131		12,872
Fair value of retained interests	61		61		62
Fair value of purchased interests	$ 201		$ 201		$ 229

Cash flows between transferee and transferor in payment of the transferor's beneficial interest related to a securitization, asset-backed financing arrangement, or similar transfer in which the transferor has continuing involvement with the transferred financial assets underlying the transaction.

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- Definition

Fair Value of Purchased Interests in securitization entities in which the firm also holds retained interests.

+ Details

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- Definition

Securitization of commercial mortgages.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gs
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Securitization of financial assets.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gs
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Securitization of other financial assets.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gs
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Securitization of residential mortgages.

+ Details

Name:	gs_SecuritizationOfResidentialMortgages
Namespace Prefix:	gs
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Securitizations.

+ Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestsContinuedToBeHeldByTransferorInFinancialAssetsThatItHasSecuritizedOrServicingAssetsOrLiabilitiesRelatingToAssetsThatItHasSecuritizedAbstract
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- Definition

This includes both the securitized and unsecuritized portion of the total principal amount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS140-4 and FIN46(R)-8
-Paragraph B11
-Subparagraph b(1)(b)

+ Details

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents the interests continued to be held by a transferor (retained or residual interest) after transferring financial assets to a third party.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 140
-Paragraph 4, 58, 59

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 140
-Paragraph 7

+ Details

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