Acquisitions (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions |
Jun. 17, 2014 |
Jun. 30, 2015 |
Apr. 01, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Oct. 31, 2014 |
Jun. 30, 2014 |
[4] | Apr. 28, 2014 |
Dec. 31, 2013 |
[4] | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Acquisition - To be acquired [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Share Price | $ 101.68 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Unpaid losses and loss expenses | $ 38,230 | $ 38,315 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Unearned premiums | 8,879 | 8,222 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance and reinsurance balances receivable | 5,757 | 5,426 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cash | $ 790 | [1],[2] | $ 655 | [1],[3] | $ 594 | $ 579 | ||||||||||||||
| The Siam Commercial Samaggi Insurance PCL [Member] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Percentage | 32.17% | 60.86% | ||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount | $ 46 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Intangible Assets Other than Goodwill | $ 80 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Combination Total Ownership Percentage | 93.03% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Combination, Consideration Transferred | $ 176 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Large Corporate P&C Business Of Itau Seguros [Member] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount | $ 449 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Intangible Assets Other than Goodwill | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Expected Cash Consideration | $ 610 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fireman's Fund high net worth personal lines [Member] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount | $ 208 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Intangible Assets Other than Goodwill | 266 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Expected Cash Consideration | 365 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities | 858 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unpaid losses and loss expenses | 402 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unearned premiums | 428 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance and reinsurance balances receivable | 128 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cash | 620 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets | $ 749 | |||||||||||||||||||
| The Chubb Corporation [Member] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition - To be acquired [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Expected Cash Consideration Per Share | $ 62.93 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Expected Stock Consideration Per Share | 0.6019 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition Expected Outstanding Share Ownership To Be Held By Acquired Company Shareholders | 137,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Expected Outstanding Share Ownership To Be Held By Acquired Company Shareholders | 30.00% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Expected Cash and Stock Consideration | $ 28,300 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Expected Financing of Acquisition with Issuance of Senior Notes | 5,300 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Acquisition, Expected Financing Of Acquisition With Cash | $ 9,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
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