Segment Information (Reconciliation of Select Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 13,441	$ 14,439	$ 27,111	$ 28,768
Total Assets	812,590		812,590		$ 783,962
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	13,028	11,812	25,035	23,104
Total Assets	748,765		748,765		721,911
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Retirement Solutions and Investment Management division
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	5,700	4,116	9,608	7,824
Total Assets	405,467		405,467		393,625
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Retirement Solutions and Investment Management division | Individual Annuities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,306	1,143	2,521	2,252
Total Assets	178,303		178,303		170,861
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Retirement Solutions and Investment Management division | Retirement
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	3,607	2,241	5,544	4,134
Total Assets	177,672		177,672		173,509
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Retirement Solutions and Investment Management division | Asset Management
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	787	732	1,543	1,438
Total Assets	49,492		49,492		49,255
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Individual Life and Group Insurance division
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	2,016	2,519	4,844	5,205
Total Assets	123,393		123,393		118,166
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Individual Life and Group Insurance division | Individual Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	654	1,155	2,099	2,521
Total Assets	82,465		82,465		77,524
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Individual Life and Group Insurance division | Group Insurance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,362	1,364	2,745	2,684
Total Assets	40,928		40,928		40,642
Operating Segments | Total International Insurance division
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	5,483	5,343	10,892	10,387
Total Assets	208,247		208,247		197,119
Operating Segments | Total International Insurance division | International Insurance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	5,483	5,343	10,892	10,387
Total Assets	208,247		208,247		197,119
Operating Segments | Total Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(171)	(166)	(309)	(312)
Total Assets	11,658		11,658		13,001
Operating Segments | Total Corporate and Other | Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(171)	(166)	(309)	(312)
Total Assets	11,658		11,658		13,001
Segment Reconciling Items | Realized investment gains (losses), net, and related adjustments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(1,377)	802	(1,443)	2,220
Segment Reconciling Items | Charges related to realized investment gains (losses), net
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(69)	(12)	(91)	76
Segment Reconciling Items | Investment gains (losses) on trading account assets supporting insurance liabilities, net
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	201	108	245	324
Segment Reconciling Items | Equity in earnings of operating joint ventures and earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(19)	(16)	(50)	(24)
Segment Reconciling Items | Closed Block division
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,449	1,546	3,006	2,675
Total Assets	63,825		63,825		$ 62,051
Segment Reconciling Items | Other divested businesses
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	228	199	409	393
Intersegment Eliminations | Total U.S. Retirement Solutions and Investment Management division | Asset Management
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 181	$ 161	$ 353	$ 331