INVESTMENTS - Investments in Consolidated Variable Interest Entities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities, amortized cost		$ 78,706	$ 76,856
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities		87,924	82,895
Equity securities		1,041	987
Commercial mortgage and other loans		7,180	6,919
Commercial mortgage and other loans, fair value		7,185	6,893
Other investments		1,238	787
Asset derivatives		401	417
Assets, fair value		93,801	88,788
Liability derivatives		365	387
Liabilities		119,630	116,944
Liabilities, fair value		365	387
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities, amortized cost		3,756	3,849
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities		4,543	4,466
Equity securities, FV-NI, cost		180	160
Equity securities		180	160
Commercial mortgage and other loans		5,892	5,528
Commercial mortgage and other loans, fair value		5,894	5,506
Other investments	[1]	374	328
Other investments, fair value	[1]	374	328
Asset derivatives, amortized cost	[2]	178	182
Asset derivatives	[2]	178	182
Assets, amortized cost		10,380	10,047
Assets, fair value		11,169	10,642
Liability derivatives, amortized cost	[2]	108	102
Liability derivatives	[2]	108	102
Liabilities		108	102
Liabilities, fair value		$ 108	$ 102

[1] Consists entirely of alternative investments in limited partnerships

[2] Consists entirely of derivatives