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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Schedule of other intangible assets by asset class (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets with finite lives, gross carrying amount | $ 4,542 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross | $ 4,323 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross |
Intangible assets with finite lives, accumulated amortization | 2,022 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization | 1,745 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization |
Intangible assets, net | 2,520 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill | 2,578 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill |
Amortization expense on intangible assets | 352 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets | 395 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets | 423 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Tradenames [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets with finite lives, gross carrying amount | 1,019 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember | 1,019 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Intangible assets with finite lives, accumulated amortization | 0 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember | 0 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Intangible assets, net | 1,019 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember | 1,019 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Customer related and contract based [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets with finite lives, gross carrying amount | 2,952 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = aon_CustomerRelatedAndContractBasedMember | 2,720 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = aon_CustomerRelatedAndContractBasedMember |
Intangible assets with finite lives, accumulated amortization | 1,579 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = aon_CustomerRelatedAndContractBasedMember | 1,310 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = aon_CustomerRelatedAndContractBasedMember |
Intangible assets, net | 1,373 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = aon_CustomerRelatedAndContractBasedMember | 1,410 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = aon_CustomerRelatedAndContractBasedMember |
Technology and other [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets with finite lives, gross carrying amount | 571 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = aon_MarketingTechnologyAndOtherMember | 584 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = aon_MarketingTechnologyAndOtherMember |
Intangible assets with finite lives, accumulated amortization | 443 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = aon_MarketingTechnologyAndOtherMember | 435 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = aon_MarketingTechnologyAndOtherMember |
Intangible assets, net | $ 128 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = aon_MarketingTechnologyAndOtherMember | $ 149 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = aon_MarketingTechnologyAndOtherMember |

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- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16212-109274 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph ((a)(1),(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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