Short-Term and Long-Term Debt (Short-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term debt	$ 3,226	$ 2,336
Commercial Paper [Member]
Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term debt	997	1,166
Commercial Paper [Member] \| Parent Company [Member]
Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term debt	208	296
Commercial Paper [Member] \| Prudential Funding L L C [Member]
Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term debt	$ 789	$ 870

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the sum of short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations, which are due within one year (or one business cycle if longer).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Name:	us-gaap_DebtCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant