Restructuring (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
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Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan | Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Real estate lease realization | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
job | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
job | Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction | Oct. 14, 2010
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
job | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation | Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring | Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan | Sep. 30, 2010
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan | Sep. 30, 2010
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan | Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan | Dec. 31, 2009
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
job | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
job | Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction | Dec. 31, 2009
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction | Dec. 31, 2008
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
job | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation | Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation | Dec. 31, 2009
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments | Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments | Dec. 31, 2009
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring | Sep. 30, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring | Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring | Dec. 31, 2009
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring | Dec. 31, 2008
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Original Estimate
year | Sep. 30, 2011
2007 Restructuring Plan | Sep. 30, 2010
2007 Restructuring Plan | Sep. 30, 2011
2007 Restructuring Plan | Sep. 30, 2010
2007 Restructuring Plan | |
| Restructuring and Related Cost | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of jobs expected to be eliminated under the plan, low end of the range | 1,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of jobs expected to be eliminated under the plan, high end of the range | 1,800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of jobs eliminated to date under the plan | 1,030 | 1,030 | 715 | 715 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of jobs expected to be eliminated under the plan | 875 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring costs recorded in earnings to date | $ 79 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated additional restructuring costs to be recorded in future earnings | 28 | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period over which the expected cost will be incurred (in years) | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase price allocation | 53 | 32 | 20 | 1 | 104 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring benefits | 2 | 3 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reversal of restructuring liability accrued in prior periods | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lease expenses | (2) | 4 | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring and related charges | 26 | 80 | 52 | 15 | 39 | 49 | 8 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 5 | (2) | 20 | 26 | 55 | 3 | 14 | 15 | 38 | (1) | (17) | 7 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 95 | ||||||||
| Restructuring charges total to date | 132 | 88 | 36 | 7 | 1 | 132 | 99 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 740 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated Total Cost for Restructuring Period | 325 | 145 | 180 | 95 | 47 | 3 | 160 | 125 | 26 | 4 | 5 | 185 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring charges paid total to date | $ 132 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||