v3.3.0.814
Income Taxes (Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]        
Unrecognized tax benefits $ 2,957 $ 2,957   $ 3,055
Portion that, if recognized, would reduce tax expense and effective tax rate 2,215 2,215   2,259
Accrued interest on unrecognized tax benefits 359 359   420
Accrued penalties on unrecognized tax benefits 35 35   34
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) [1]   2,772 $ (689)  
GE Capital Exit Plan [Member]        
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]        
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) 6,335 355    
Income tax reconciliation repatriation of foreign earnings 3,674 125    
Income tax reconciliation change 230 2,661    
Foreign cash in excess of normal operating 36,000 36,000    
Lower Limit        
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]        
Portion that, if recognized, would reduce tax expense and effective tax rate 0 0   0
Reasonably possible reduction to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits in succeeding 12 months 0 0   0
Upper Limit        
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]        
Portion that, if recognized, would reduce tax expense and effective tax rate 0 0   600
Reasonably possible reduction to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits in succeeding 12 months $ 0 $ 0   $ 50
[1] Amounts may not add due to rounding.