Segment Information (Assets for the Reportable Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 647,463	$ 620,244
Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	576,988	551,000
Closed Block [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	70,475	69,244
U S Retirement Solutions And Investment Management Division [Member] | Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	308,789	292,648
U S Individual Life And Group Insurance Division [Member] | Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	83,894	80,044
International Insurance Division [Member] | Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	177,226	168,961
Corporate and Other [Member] | Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	7,079	9,347
Individual Annuities [Member] | U S Retirement Solutions And Investment Management Division [Member] | Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	136,082	123,394
Retirement [Member] | U S Retirement Solutions And Investment Management Division [Member] | Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	133,346	131,947
Asset Management [Member] | U S Retirement Solutions And Investment Management Division [Member] | Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	39,361	37,307
Individual Life [Member] | U S Individual Life And Group Insurance Division [Member] | Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	44,908	43,063
Group Insurance [Member] | U S Individual Life And Group Insurance Division [Member] | Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	38,986	36,981
International Insurance [Member] | International Insurance Division [Member] | Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	177,226	168,961
Corporate Operations [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member] | Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 7,079	$ 9,347