Cash Instruments - Investments in Funds that are Calculated Using Net Asset Value Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash Instruments Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities That Are Calculated Using Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Fair Value of Investments	$ 6,183	$ 6,465
Cash Instruments Liabilities [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities That Are Calculated Using Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Unfunded Commitments	1,857	1,831
Private Equity Funds [Member] \| Cash Instruments Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities That Are Calculated Using Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Fair Value of Investments	4,514	4,628
Private Equity Funds [Member] \| Cash Instruments Liabilities [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities That Are Calculated Using Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Unfunded Commitments	1,397	1,393
Credit Funds [Member] \| Cash Instruments Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities That Are Calculated Using Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Fair Value of Investments	418	421
Credit Funds [Member] \| Cash Instruments Liabilities [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities That Are Calculated Using Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Unfunded Commitments	190	166
Hedge Funds [Member] \| Cash Instruments Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities That Are Calculated Using Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Fair Value of Investments	337	410
Real Estate Funds [Member] \| Cash Instruments Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities That Are Calculated Using Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Fair Value of Investments	914	1,006
Real Estate Funds [Member] \| Cash Instruments Liabilities [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities That Are Calculated Using Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Unfunded Commitments	$ 270	$ 272

Fair value of investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share, including, but not limited to, by unit, membership interest, or other ownership interest. Investments include, but are not limited to, investments in certain hedge funds, venture capital funds, private equity funds, real estate partnerships or funds.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=SL6742756-110258

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of unfunded commitments for which the entity is obligated, to those certain investments for which net asset value per share is calculated (including by unit, membership interest, or other equity (ownership interest) unit measure) (alternative investments).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6A
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=SL6742756-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueInvestmentsEntitiesThatCalculateNetAssetValuePerShareUnfundedCommittments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=gs_CashInstrumentsAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=gs_CashInstrumentsLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=gs_CreditFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_RealEstateFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: