Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Advances from FHLB	$ 616	$ 573
COLI asset value	354
Value of guarantees on COLI	171
Capital Contributions
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Investment commitment	2,366	2,358
Voya Financial Inc. [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Investment commitment	19,000
VA Capital Company LLC [Member] | Equity Method Investments [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Investment commitment	75
Venerable Holdings, Inc. [Member] | Loans [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Investment commitment	150
Athene Global Funding | Senior notes
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	5,000
Athene Global Funding | Funding Agreements
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Interest sensitive contract liabilities	2,996	$ 2,996
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Income tax examination, estimate of possible loss	120
Tax Year 2008 | Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Proposed disallowance of income tax deduction	191
Tax Year 2009 | Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Proposed disallowance of income tax deduction	154
Proposed decrease in net operating loss	16
Tax Year 2010 | Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Proposed disallowance of income tax deduction	76
Proposed decrease in net operating loss	16
Tax Year 2011 | Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Proposed disallowance of income tax deduction	16
Proposed decrease in net operating loss	15
Tax Year 2012 | Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Proposed increase in income tax deductions	12
Proposed decrease in net operating loss	12
Tax Year 2011 and 2012 | Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Proposed Increase to Taxable Income	$ 16