Earnings Per Share (Reconciliation of the Numerators and Denominators of the Basic and Diluted Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Basic earnings per share
Net income (loss)	$ 200	$ 496	$ 1,564	$ 1,868
Less: Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	3	5	4	8
Less: Dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating unvested share-based payment awards	4	6	18	23
Net income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial available to holders of Common Stock, Basic Income	$ 193	$ 485	$ 1,542	$ 1,837
Net income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial available to holders of Common Stock, Basic Weighted Average Shares	419.5	428.3	420.8	429.1
Net income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial available to holders of Common Stock, Basic Per Share Amount	$ 0.46	$ 1.13	$ 3.66	$ 4.28
Effect of dilutive securities and compensation programs
Add: Dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating unvested share-based payment awards—Basic	$ 4	$ 6	$ 18	$ 23
Less: Dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating unvested share-based payment awards—Diluted	$ 4	$ 7	$ 18	$ 23
Stock options, Weighted Average Shares	1.5	2.1	1.7	2.2
Deferred and long-term compensation programs, Weighted Average Shares	1.1	1.0	1.1	1.0
Exchangeable Surplus Notes	$ 6	$ 5	$ 11	$ 9
Exchangeable Surplus Notes, Weighted Average Shares	5.9	5.8	5.9	5.8
Diluted earnings per share
Net income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial available to holders of Common Stock, Diluted Income	$ 199	$ 489	$ 1,553	$ 1,846
Net income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial available to holders of Common Stock, Diluted Weighted Average Shares	428.0	437.2	429.5	438.1
Net income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial available to holders of Common Stock, Diluted Per Share Amount	$ 0.46	$ 1.12	$ 3.62	$ 4.21