Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Condensed Statements of Cash Flow) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended											12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017		Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
NET INCOME (LOSS)		$ 3,865		$ 2,241	$ 496	$ 1,372		$ 293		$ 1,832	$ 925	$ 1,369	$ 7,974		$ 4,419		$ 5,712
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Realized investment (gains) losses, net													(432)		(2,194)		(4,025)
Dividends received from subsidiaries													63		60		27
Change in:
Other, operating(1)	[1]												(1,142)		(900)		(278)
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities													13,445		14,815		13,942
Proceeds from the sale/maturity of:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale													58,244		49,713		47,080
Short-term investments													29,225		43,700		77,021
Payments for the purchase of:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale													(68,667)		(66,857)		(47,606)
Short-term investments													(28,301)		(43,370)		(76,622)
Other, investing													(712)		(227)		106
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities													(11,934)		(21,551)		(7,746)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash dividends paid on Common Stock													(1,296)		(1,300)		(1,117)
Common Stock acquired													(1,250)		(2,000)		(1,013)
Common Stock reissued for exercise of stock options													246		426		209
Proceeds from the issuance of debt (maturities longer than 90 days)													1,225		2,742		5,166
Repayments of debt (maturities longer than 90 days)													(1,827)		(2,753)		(4,957)
Net change in financing arrangements (maturities 90 days or less)													38		292		68
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements													0		21		19
Other, financing(1)	[1]												(14)		(168)		(268)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities(1)													(1,258)		3,201		(3,571)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS													363		(3,485)		2,694
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR						14,127	[2]					17,612	14,127	[2]	17,612		14,918
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR		14,490	[2]					14,127	[2]				14,490	[2]	14,127	[2]	17,612
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid during the period for interest													1,248		1,257		1,324
Cash paid (refunds received) during the period for taxes													185		770		1,083
Common Class B Stock
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Common Stock acquired													0		(119)		(651)
Prudential Financial
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
NET INCOME (LOSS)													7,863		4,368		5,642
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries													(8,330)		(4,969)		(6,194)
Realized investment (gains) losses, net													73		126		98
Dividends received from subsidiaries													1,975		2,828		4,557
Property, plant and equipment													(1)		(13)		(579)
Change in:
Due to/from subsidiaries, net													213		(5,109)		(493)
Other, operating(1)	[3]												(149)		204		(333)
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities													1,644		(2,565)		2,698
Proceeds from the sale/maturity of:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale													740		0		0
Short-term investments													15,973		17,575		13,700
Payments for the purchase of:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale													(865)		(1,106)		0
Short-term investments													(15,087)		(19,111)		(13,002)
Capital contributions to subsidiaries													(1,135)		(2,018)		(2,545)
Returns of capital contributions from subsidiaries													1,150		2,755		75
Loans to subsidiaries, net of maturities													(1,127)		(596)		2,056
Other, investing													61		1		244
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities													(290)		(2,500)		528
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash dividends paid on Common Stock													(1,296)		(1,300)		(1,117)
Common Stock acquired													(1,250)		(2,000)		(1,664)
Common Stock reissued for exercise of stock options													246		426		209
Proceeds from the issuance of debt (maturities longer than 90 days)													742		30		1,332
Repayments of debt (maturities longer than 90 days)													(480)		(1,319)		(2,404)
Repayments of loans from subsidiaries													(310)		(390)		(102)
Proceeds from loans payable to subsidiaries													1,627		1,405		1,316
Net change in financing arrangements (maturities 90 days or less)													(16)		14		8
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements													0		10		3
Other, financing(1)	[3]												(68)		(132)		(62)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities(1)													(805)		(3,256)		(2,481)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS													549		(8,321)		745
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR						$ 1,116						$ 9,437	1,116		9,437		8,692
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR		$ 1,665						$ 1,116					1,665		1,116		9,437
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid during the period for interest													1,019		1,002		1,048
Cash paid (refunds received) during the period for taxes													(213)		(544)		46
NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS DURING THE YEAR
Non-cash capital contributions to subsidiaries													(17)		(4,158)		1,453
Non-cash dividends/returns of capital from subsidiaries													0		4,142		1,335
Treasury Stock shares issued for stock-based compensation programs													$ 104		$ 115		$ 115

[1] Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

[2] See Note 5 for details of balances associated with variable interest entities.

[3] Prior period amounts are presented on a basis consistent with current period presentation, reflecting the adoption of ASU 2016-09. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.