Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Common Stock Held in Treasury Common Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total Prudential Financial, Inc. Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 46,255	$ 6	$ 24,606	$ 22,113	$ (15,316)	$ 14,621	$ 46,030	$ 225
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock acquired	(1,250)				(1,250)		(1,250)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	10							10
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(50)							(50)
Consolidations/(deconsolidations) of noncontrolling interests	(3)							(3)
Stock-based compensation programs	440		158		282		440
Dividends declared on Common Stock	(1,300)			(1,300)			(1,300)
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	7,974			7,863			7,863	111
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	2,435					2,453	2,453	(18)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	10,409						10,316	93
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	54,511	6	24,769	28,671	(16,284)	17,074	54,236	275
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock acquired	(1,500)				1,500		1,500
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	147							147
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(27)							(27)
Stock-based compensation programs	250		59		191		250
Dividends declared on Common Stock	(1,526)			(1,526)			(1,526)
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	4,088			4,074			4,074	14
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(6,969)					(6,974)	(6,974)	5
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(2,881)						(2,900)	19
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	49,031	6	24,828	30,470	(17,593)	10,906	48,617	414
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of adoption	9
Cumulative effect of adoption | ASU 2016-01						(847)
Common Stock acquired	(2,500)				2,500		2,500
Exchangeable Surplus Notes conversion	502		502				502
Assurance IQ acquisition	454		79		375		454
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	208							208
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(82)							(82)
Consolidations/(deconsolidations) of noncontrolling interests	9							9
Stock-based compensation programs	388		123		265		388
Dividends declared on Common Stock	(1,644)			(1,644)			(1,644)
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	4,238			4,186			4,186	52
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	13,129					13,126	13,126	3
Total comprehensive income (loss)	17,367						17,312	55
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 63,719	$ 6	$ 25,532	$ 32,991	$ (19,453)	$ 24,039	$ 63,115	$ 604