Business Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations - Held for Sale Income Statements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Benefits and expenses:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ (56)	$ (140)	$ (93)	$ (130)	$ (1,126)	$ 3	$ 42	$ (20)	$ (419)	$ (1,101)	$ 425
Held for sale
Benefits and expenses:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(419)	(1,101)	425
Individual Life Transaction | Held for sale
Revenues:
Net investment income									669	665	649
Fee income									778	750	743
Premiums									26	27	27
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									27	45	(44)
Other revenue									(16)	(21)	4
Total revenues									1,484	1,466	1,379
Benefits and expenses:
Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners/policyholders									1,225	1,055	1,050
Operating expenses									147	83	96
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired									238	153	135
Interest expense									6	10	9
Total benefits and expenses									1,616	1,301	1,290
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes									(132)	165	89
Income tax expense (benefit)									(29)	34	17
Loss on sale, net of tax									(316)	(1,150)	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(419)	(1,019)	72
2018 Transaction | Held for sale
Revenues:
Net investment income									0	0	510
Fee income									0	0	295
Premiums									0	0	(50)
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									0	0	(345)
Other revenue									0	0	10
Total revenues									0	0	420
Benefits and expenses:
Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners/policyholders									0	0	442
Operating expenses									0	0	(14)
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired									0	0	49
Interest expense									0	0	10
Total benefits and expenses									0	0	487
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes									0	0	(67)
Income tax expense (benefit)									0	0	(19)
Loss on sale, net of tax									0	(82)	401
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									$ 0	$ (82)	$ 353