Expected Loss to be Paid - Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for Breaches of R&W (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	$ 2,047	[1]	$ 2,756
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	352		617
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	(705)	[2]	(1,326)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	1,694	[1]	2,047	[1]
Period after the end of the reporting period within which the ceded paid losses are typically settled (in days)	45 days
Expected LAE for mitigating claim liabilities	34		39
Paid LAE	54		47
Prime first lien
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	10	[1]	5
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	16		5
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	(1)	[2]	0	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	25	[1]	10	[1]
Alt-A first lien
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	693	[1]	702
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	(40)		102
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	(75)	[2]	(111)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	578	[1]	693	[1]
Option ARM
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	460	[1]	935
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	63		128
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	(359)	[2]	(603)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	164	[1]	460	[1]
Subprime
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	351	[1]	342
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	101		57
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	(30)	[2]	(48)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	422	[1]	351	[1]
Total first lien
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	1,514	[1]	1,984
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	140		292
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	(465)	[2]	(762)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	1,189	[1]	1,514	[1]
Closed-end second lien
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	99	[1]	138
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	(3)		(5)
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	(9)	[2]	(34)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	87	[1]	99	[1]
HELOCs
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	39	[1]	159
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	3		80
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	(113)	[2]	(200)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	(71)	[1]	39	[1]
Total second lien
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	138	[1]	297
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	0		75
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	(122)	[2]	(234)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	16	[1]	138	[1]
U.S. RMBS
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	1,652	[1]	2,281
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	140		367
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	(587)	[2]	(996)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	1,205	[1]	1,652	[1]
TruPS
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	27	[1]	64
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	7		(30)
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	17	[2]	(7)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	51	[1]	27	[1]
Other structured finance
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	312	[1]	342
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	(41)		2
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	(151)	[2]	(32)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	120	[1]	312	[1]
U.S. Public Finance
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	7	[1]	16
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	239		74
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	18	[2]	(83)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	264	[1]	7	[1]
Non-U.S. public finance
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	52	[1]	51
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	17		221
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	(12)	[2]	(220)	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	57	[1]	52	[1]
Other
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses to be Paid [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	(3)	[1]	2
Economic Loss Development Before Recoveries for R&W	(10)		(17)
(Paid) Recovered Losses Before Recoveries for R&W	10	[2]	12	[2]
End of Period, Net Expected Loss to be Paid Before Recoveries for R&W	$ (3)	[1]	$ (3)	[1]

[1] Includes expected LAE to be paid for mitigating claim liabilities of $34 million as of December 31, 2013 and $39 million as of December 31, 2012. The Company paid $54 million and $47 million in LAE for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

[2] Net of ceded paid losses, whether or not such amounts have been settled with reinsurers. Ceded paid losses are typically settled 45 days after the end of the reporting period. Such amounts are recorded in reinsurance recoverable on paid losses included in other assets.