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Acquisitions and Divestitures Textual ( Details) (USD $)
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3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |
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Jun. 30, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2013
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| Acquisition Textuals [Abstract] | |||
| Cash payment due to extinguishing a portion of NCI | $ 132,000,000axp_NonControllingInterestCashPayment | ||
| Long-term liability incurred as a cause of the extinguishment of a portion of NCI | 121,000,000axp_NonControllingInterestLiabilityIncurred | ||
| Reduction in equity due to extinguishment of a portion of NCI | 107,000,000us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromRedemptions | ||
| Ownership percentage by the Company | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage | ||
| Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method. | 900,000,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure | ||
| Cash invested by third party in joint venture | 900,000,000axp_CashInvestedByThirdPartyInJointVenture | ||
| Ownership percentage by Investor | 50.00%axp_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageOfThirdParty | ||
| Deconsolidation gain amount, before tax | 626,000,000axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountBeforeTax | 630,000,000axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountBeforeTax | |
| Deconsolidation gain amount, after tax | $ 409,000,000axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountAfterTax | $ 412,000,000axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountAfterTax | |
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- Details
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- Definition
Primary input used to determine fair value of equity investment No definition available.
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- Definition
Gain on business travel joint venture transaction, after tax No definition available.
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- Definition
Gain on business travel joint venture, before tax No definition available.
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- Definition
The percentage of ownership by an investor group of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. No definition available.
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- Definition
The amount of cash acquired due to the extinguishment of non-controlling interest. No definition available.
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- Definition
The amount of long-term liability incurred as a cause of the extinguishment of non-controlling interest. No definition available.
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- Definition
The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Decrease in noncontrolling interest (for example, but not limited to, redeeming or purchasing the interests of noncontrolling shareholders, issuance of shares (interests) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary to the parent entity for other than cash, and a buyback of shares (interest) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary from the noncontrolling interests). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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