Derivatives and Hedging Activities - Derivatives with Credit-Related Contingent Features (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Derivative [Line Items]
Aggregate fair value of derivative contracts which are in net liability position	$ 32,800	$ 29,583
Aggregate fair value of assets as a collateral for derivative contracts	28,510	24,393
One-Notch Reduction [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Additional collateral or termination payments pursuant to bilateral agreements with certain counterparties which could have been called by counterparties in the event of a reduction in the firm's long-term credit ratings	358	262
Two-Notch Reduction [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Additional collateral or termination payments pursuant to bilateral agreements with certain counterparties which could have been called by counterparties in the event of a reduction in the firm's long-term credit ratings	$ 1,268	$ 959

The aggregate fair value of additional assets that would be required to be posted as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features if the credit-risk-related contingent features were triggered at the end of the reporting period.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4H
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624258-113959

+ Details

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

- Definition

The aggregate fair value of assets that are already posted, at the end of the reporting period, as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4H
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624258-113959

+ Details

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

- Definition

The aggregate fair value amounts of derivative instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. For nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the fair value amounts are the carrying value of the nonderivative hedging instrument, including the adjustment for the foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on that instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4H
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624258-113959

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	gs_ReductionInEntitysLongTermCreditRatingsAxis=gs_OneNotchReductionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	gs_ReductionInEntitysLongTermCreditRatingsAxis=gs_TwoNotchReductionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: