Related Parties - Narrative (Details) - Related Party - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Management fees associated with investment funds
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due to related parties	$ 33		$ 33			$ 28
Sub-advisory fees associated with investment funds management
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due to related parties	15		15			13
A-A Mortgage Opportunities, LP
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment Owned, Balance, Principal Amount	172		172			$ 52
Athene Asset Management | Portfolio Management Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment portfolio assets managed by affiliates	$ 81,750		$ 81,750
Investment portfolio assets, percentage rated at one or two by the NAIC	86.00%		86.00%
Management fee payable, percentage							0.40%
Amended Management Fee, Percentage, Assets up to $65,846 million	0.40%		0.40%
Amended Management Fee, Percentage, Assets in Excess of $65,846 million	0.30%		0.30%
Amended Management Fee, Threshold	$ 65,846		$ 65,846
Apollo affiliates | Sub-advisory fees associated with investment funds management
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amended Sub-Advisory Fee, Percentage, Assets up to $10,000 million	0.40%		0.40%
Amended Sub-Advisory Fee, Percentage, Assets in excess of $10,000 million up to $12,441 million	0.35%		0.35%
Amended Sub-Advisory Fee, Percentage, Assets in excess of $12,441 million up to $16,000 million	0.40%		0.40%
Amended Sub-Advisory Fee, Percentage, Assets in excess of $16,000 million	0.35%		0.35%
Amended Sub-Advisory Fee, Threshold One	$ 10,000		$ 10,000
Amended Sub-Advisory Fee, Threshold Two	12,441		12,441
Amended Sub-Advisory Fee, Threshold Three	16,000		16,000
AmeriHome | Purchase of residential mortgage loans under agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party purchases	$ 167	$ 0	211	$ 1
VA Capital Company LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Minority equity investment					$ 75
Venerable
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment Owned, Balance, Principal Amount					$ 150
Stated interest rate	6.257%
Funding Agreements | Athora Holding Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest sensitive contract liabilities	$ 170		$ 170