Transactions with Affiliated Funds - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Transactions With Affiliated Funds [Abstract]
Management fees waived	$ 26	$ 79
Outstanding guarantees on behalf of certain nonconsolidated investment funds	$ 300	$ 300	$ 300

Outstanding guarantees on behalf of certain nonconsolidated investment funds.

No definition available.

Name:	gs_OutstandingGuaranteesOnBehalfOfCertainNonconsolidatedInvestmentFunds
Namespace Prefix:	gs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant