Fair Value Option - Loans and Lending Commitments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Aggregate contractual principal amount of performing loans and long-term receivables in excess of fair value	$ 869	$ 1,330
Aggregate contractual principal amount of loans on non-accrual status and/or more than 90 days past due in excess of fair value (excluding loans carried at zero fair value and considered uncollectible)	9,132	9,600
Aggregate fair value of loans on non-accrual status and/or more than 90 days past due	$ 2,454	$ 2,391

This item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of performing loans and long-term receivables (other than securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity) that have contractual principal amounts and for which the fair value option has been elected.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gs_FairValueOptionAggregateDifferencesPerformingLoansAndLongTermReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	gs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of loans held as assets that are in nonaccrual status for which the fair value option has been elected, if the entity's policy is to recognize interest income separately from other changes in fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (e)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssetsAggregateAmountInNonaccrualStatus
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For loans held as assets for which the fair value option has been elected, this item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of those loans that are 90 days or more past due, in nonaccrual status, or both.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (e)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssetsAggregateDifference
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant