Segment Information - Reconciliation of Segment Operating Income to Consolidation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income tax (expense) benefit – non-operating		$ (56)	$ (64)	$ (45)					$ (109)	$ (165)	$ (122)	$ (106)	$ 61
Net income available to Athene Holding Ltd. shareholders	$ (104)	$ 623	$ 257	$ 277	$ 439	$ 244	$ 298	$ 377			1,053	1,358	773
Operating Segments | Retirement Services
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income tax (expense) benefit – non-operating											(100)	(83)	53
Net income available to Athene Holding Ltd. shareholders											1,201	1,038	808
Operating Segments | Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income tax (expense) benefit – non-operating											0	2	4
Net income available to Athene Holding Ltd. shareholders											(61)	17	(49)
Non-operating adjustments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Investment gains (losses), net of offsets											(274)	199	47
Change in fair values of derivatives and embedded derivatives – index annuities, net of offsets											(1,020)	1,990	324
Loss on Derivative Instruments, Net of Expenses, Pretax											(242)	(230)	67
Integration, restructuring and other non-operating expenses											(22)	(68)	22
Stock-based compensation, excluding LTIP											(11)	(33)	82
Income tax (expense) benefit – non-operating											$ (22)	$ (25)	$ 4