Fair Value Option - Level 3 Rollforward (Detail) - Other Financial Liabilities [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Beginning Balance	$ (27,791)	$ (21,650)	$ (28,058)	$ (21,036)
Net realized gains / (losses)	(200)	(109)	(294)	(203)
Net unrealized gains/(losses)	(612)	(1,977)	(49)	777
Issuances	(7,776)	(9,541)	(12,334)	(15,206)
Settlements	7,258	7,707	10,844	11,132
Transfers into level 3	(903)	(628)	(980)	(1,622)
Transfers out of level 3	1,888	235	2,735	195
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Ending Balance	(28,136)	(25,963)	(28,136)	(25,963)
Deposits at Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Beginning Balance	(3,984)	(3,996)	(4,221)	(4,023)
Net realized gains / (losses)	(9)	(1)	(16)	4
Net unrealized gains/(losses)	(110)	(79)	(111)	(75)
Issuances	(125)	(3,929)	(215)	(4,025)
Settlements	313	3,796	625	3,919
Transfers into level 3	(7)	(44)	(28)	(66)
Transfers out of level 3	14	36	58	49
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Ending Balance	(3,908)	(4,217)	(3,908)	(4,217)
Repurchase Agreements at Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Beginning Balance	(1)	(12)	(2)	(30)
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		(4)		(1)
Settlements	1	6	2	21
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Ending Balance		(10)		(10)
Other Secured Financings at Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Beginning Balance	(3,224)	(1,230)	(3,474)	(386)
Net realized gains / (losses)	(9)	2	(6)	5
Net unrealized gains/(losses)	(1)	(32)	35	26
Issuances	(34)	(806)	(62)	(806)
Settlements	92	293	323	373
Transfers into level 3	(111)		(304)	(985)
Transfers out of level 3	396		597
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Ending Balance	(2,891)	(1,773)	(2,891)	(1,773)
Unsecured Short-Term Borrowings Including Current Portion of Unsecured Long-Term Borrowings at Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Beginning Balance	(10,246)	(5,411)	(7,523)	(5,707)
Net realized gains / (losses)	(103)	(48)	(130)	(81)
Net unrealized gains/(losses)	(184)	(735)	(135)	605
Issuances	(6,012)	(2,853)	(9,480)	(5,339)
Settlements	4,510	2,572	5,303	4,008
Transfers into level 3	(395)	(445)	(218)	(353)
Transfers out of level 3	969	114	722	61
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Ending Balance	(11,461)	(6,806)	(11,461)	(6,806)
Unsecured Long-Term Borrowings at Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Beginning Balance	(10,177)	(10,676)	(12,576)	(10,741)
Net realized gains / (losses)	(79)	(70)	(142)	(146)
Net unrealized gains/(losses)	(314)	(1,132)	62	393
Issuances	(1,605)	(1,945)	(2,577)	(5,021)
Settlements	2,342	1,040	4,591	2,811
Transfers into level 3	(390)	(139)	(430)	(218)
Transfers out of level 3	509	85	1,358	85
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Ending Balance	(9,714)	(12,837)	(9,714)	(12,837)
Other Liabilities at Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Beginning Balance	(159)	(325)	(262)	(149)
Net realized gains / (losses)		8		15
Net unrealized gains/(losses)	(3)	5	100	(171)
Issuances		(8)		(15)
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value, Ending Balance	$ (162)	$ (320)	$ (162)	$ (320)

Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	gs_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	gs_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents total net unrealized gains or losses for the period relating to instruments still held at the reporting date, arising from liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in earnings and other comprehensive income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gs_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityNetUnrealizedGainLossIncludedInEarningsAndOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	gs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of transfers of financial instrument classified as a liability into level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationLiabilityTransfersIntoLevel3
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of transfers of financial instrument classified as a liability out of level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationLiabilityTransfersOutOfLevel3
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income from liability measured at fair value on recurring basis using unobservable input (level 3).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of issuances of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityIssues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of settlements of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilitySettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis=us-gaap_DepositsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis=gs_RepurchaseAgreementsAtFairValueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis=gs_OtherSecuredFinancingsAtFairValueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis=gs_UnsecuredShortTermBorrowingsIncludingCurrentPortionOfUnsecuredLongTermBorrowingsAtFairValueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis=gs_UnsecuredLongTermBorrowingsAtFairValueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis=us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: