SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details - Continuing operations by reportable segment) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 13,010	$ 12,854	$ 14,724	$ 11,779	$ 13,831	$ 12,822	$ 15,699	$ 15,975	$ 52,367	$ 58,327	$ 64,406
Net investment income									14,065	14,053	16,079
Interest Expense									1,260	1,281	1,718
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									4,521	5,236	5,330
Revenues and pre-tax income	$ (3,455)	$ 737	$ 2,858	$ (214)	$ (2,932)	$ (115)	$ 2,552	$ 3,776	(74)	3,281	10,501
Commercial Insurance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									21,368	23,136	24,662
Net investment income									3,268	3,421	4,255
Interest Expense									17	8	1
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									2,049	2,349	2,497
Revenues and pre-tax income									(2,735)	565	4,247
Consumer Insurance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									24,049	24,530	25,713
Net investment income									7,345	7,356	7,924
Interest Expense									100	54	27
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									2,681	2,762	2,655
Revenues and pre-tax income									3,849	2,929	4,206
Other Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									4,018	4,650	3,596
Net investment income									770	706	749
Interest Expense									983	1,030	1,291
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									76	49	45
Revenues and pre-tax income									(748)	(567)	(958)
Legacy portfolio [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									5,250	5,771	7,353
Net investment income									2,913	2,928	3,245
Interest Expense									260	280	390
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									108	102	81
Revenues and pre-tax income									1,007	1,133	2,576
Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Commercial Insurance | Liability And Financial Lines [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									13,270	14,684	16,012
Net investment income									2,700	2,818	3,410
Interest Expense									10	5	1
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									1,098	1,439	1,464
Revenues and pre-tax income									(2,649)	(661)	3,044
Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Commercial Insurance | Property And Special Risks [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									8,098	8,452	8,650
Net investment income									568	603	845
Interest Expense									7	3	0
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									951	910	1,033
Revenues and pre-tax income									(86)	1,226	1,203
Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Consumer Insurance | Individual Retirement [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									5,758	6,450	6,739
Net investment income									3,878	3,805	4,103
Interest Expense									49	27	14
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									298	431	315
Revenues and pre-tax income									2,269	1,812	2,306
Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Consumer Insurance | Group Retirement [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									2,769	2,834	3,005
Net investment income									2,146	2,192	2,349
Interest Expense									27	15	8
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									129	50	31
Revenues and pre-tax income									931	1,100	1,229
Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Consumer Insurance | Personal Insurance [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									11,704	11,475	12,339
Net investment income									286	325	372
Interest Expense									11	5	1
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									2,072	1,970	2,088
Revenues and pre-tax income									686	68	381
Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Consumer Insurance | Life Insurance [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									3,818	3,771	3,630
Net investment income									1,035	1,034	1,100
Interest Expense									13	7	4
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									182	311	221
Revenues and pre-tax income									(37)	(51)	290
Reclassification and Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									437	(6,604)	(13,378)
Interest Expense									(6)	(128)	(132)
Consolidation and Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									(494)	(496)	(323)
Net investment income									(351)	(315)	(354)
Interest Expense									(100)	(91)	9
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									(117)	(26)	(4)
Revenues and pre-tax income									42	(76)	(19)
Total Operating segments corporate and other eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									54,191	57,591	61,001
Net investment income									13,945	14,096	15,819
Interest Expense									1,260	1,281	1,718
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs									4,797	5,236	5,274
Revenues and pre-tax income									$ 1,415	$ 3,984	$ 10,052