Short-Term and Long-Term Debt (Summarized Consolidated Financial Data) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Total assets	$ 624,521				$ 539,854				$ 624,521	$ 539,854
Total liabilities	586,710				506,926				586,710	506,926
Total member's equity	37,223				32,415				37,223	32,415
Noncontrolling interests	588				513				588	513
Total equity	37,811				32,928				37,811	32,928	25,729	13,786
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	624,521				539,854				624,521	539,854
Total revenues	11,695	14,917	12,247	10,186	8,049	9,917	10,987	9,247	49,045	38,200	32,380
Total benefits and expenses	10,788	12,583	11,075	9,482	7,922	8,167	9,481	8,238	43,928	33,808	30,856
Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes And Operating Joint Ventures	907	2,334	1,172	704	127	1,750	1,506	1,009	5,117	4,392	1,524
Net income	694	1,544	867	633	189	1,242	1,104	671	3,738	3,206	3,090
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	8	10	29	25	12	(2)	27	(26)	72	11	(34)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO PRUDENTIAL	686	1,534	838	608	177	1,244	1,077	697	3,666	3,195	3,124
Cash flows from operating activities									12,377	6,542	5,840
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities									(13,295)	(8,522)	2,429
Cash flows used in financing activities									2,099	1,613	(10,421)
Effect of foreign exchange in cash and cash equivalents									155	118	288
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS									1,336	(249)	(1,864)
Prudential Holdings L L C [Member]
Total assets	401,559				374,655				401,559	374,655
Total liabilities	380,644				354,409				380,644	354,409
Total member's equity	20,906				20,223				20,906	20,223
Noncontrolling interests	9				23				9	23
Total equity	20,915				20,246				20,915	20,246
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	401,559				374,655				401,559	374,655
Total revenues									25,239	23,959	20,223
Total benefits and expenses									24,229	21,300	19,934
Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes And Operating Joint Ventures									1,010	2,659	289
Net income									801	1,955	2,241
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(13)	1	1
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO PRUDENTIAL									814	1,954	2,240
Cash flows from operating activities									3,465	1,492	3,065
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities									(4,741)	(3,684)	5,375
Cash flows used in financing activities									2,278	(1,367)	(9,389)
Effect of foreign exchange in cash and cash equivalents									(15)	(28)	9
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS									$ 987	$ (3,587)	$ (940)