SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details - Continuing operations by reportable segment - Pretax operating income to pre-tax income)) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt	$ (1)	$ 1	$ (4)	$ (1)	$ (2)	$ (14)	$ 7	$ 83	$ 5	$ (74)	$ (756)
Income (loss) from divested businesses	(241)	13	60	100	(194)	(128)	(225)	2	68	545	(11)
Net reserve discount (benefit) charge									(187)	422	71
Restructuring and other costs	154	31	47	181	206	210	90	188
Pre-tax operating income (loss)	$ 875	$ (2,803)	$ 1,667	$ 1,727	$ (3,455)	$ 737	$ 2,858	$ (214)	1,466	(74)	3,281
Reconciling items from pre-tax operating income to pre-tax income | Total Revenues
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Changes in fair values of securities used to hedge guaranteed living benefits									146	120	(43)
Changes in benefit reserves and DAC, VOBA and SIA related to net realized capital gains									0	0	0
Other income (expense) - net									(49)	(44)	(43)
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt									0	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses)									(1,380)	(1,944)	776
Income (loss) from divested businesses									0	0	(48)
Non-operating litigation reserves and settlements									27	44	94
Reserve development related to non-operating run-off insurance business									0	0	0
Net reserve discount (benefit) charge									0	0	0
Pension expense related to a one-time lump sum payment to former employees									0	0
Restructuring and other costs									0	0	0
Other									0	0	0
Pre-tax operating income (loss)									49,520	52,367	58,327
Reconciling items from pre-tax operating income to pre-tax income | Net investment income
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Changes in fair values of securities used to hedge guaranteed living benefits									146	120	(43)
Changes in benefit reserves and DAC, VOBA and SIA related to net realized capital gains									0	0	0
Other income (expense) - net									0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt									0	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses)									0	0	0
Income (loss) from divested businesses									0	0	0
Non-operating litigation reserves and settlements									0	0	0
Reserve development related to non-operating run-off insurance business									0	0	0
Net reserve discount (benefit) charge									0	0	0
Pension expense related to a one-time lump sum payment to former employees									0	0
Restructuring and other costs									0	0	0
Other									0	0	0
Pre-tax operating income (loss)									14,179	14,065	14,053
Reconciling items from pre-tax operating income to pre-tax income | Interest expense
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Changes in fair values of securities used to hedge guaranteed living benefits									0	0	0
Changes in benefit reserves and DAC, VOBA and SIA related to net realized capital gains									0	0	0
Other income (expense) - net									0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt									0	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses)									0	0	0
Income (loss) from divested businesses									0	0	0
Non-operating litigation reserves and settlements									0	0	0
Reserve development related to non-operating run-off insurance business									0	0	0
Net reserve discount (benefit) charge									0	0	0
Pension expense related to a one-time lump sum payment to former employees									0	0
Restructuring and other costs									0	0	0
Other									0	0	0
Pre-tax operating income (loss)									1,168	1,260	1,281
Reconciling items from pre-tax operating income to pre-tax income | Amortization of DAC
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Changes in fair values of securities used to hedge guaranteed living benefits									0	0	0
Changes in benefit reserves and DAC, VOBA and SIA related to net realized capital gains									(291)	(276)	0
Other income (expense) - net									0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt									0	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses)									0	0	0
Income (loss) from divested businesses									0	0	0
Non-operating litigation reserves and settlements									0	0	0
Reserve development related to non-operating run-off insurance business									0	0	0
Net reserve discount (benefit) charge									0	0	0
Pension expense related to a one-time lump sum payment to former employees									0	0
Restructuring and other costs									0	0	0
Other									0	0	0
Pre-tax operating income (loss)									4,288	4,521	5,236
Reconciling items from pre-tax operating income to pre-tax income | Adjusted Pre-Tax Income (loss)
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Changes in fair values of securities used to hedge guaranteed living benefits									146	120	(43)
Changes in benefit reserves and DAC, VOBA and SIA related to net realized capital gains									303	195	(15)
Other income (expense) - net									0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt									5	(74)	(756)
Net realized capital gains (losses)									(1,380)	(1,944)	776
Income (loss) from divested businesses									68	545	(59)
Non-operating litigation reserves and settlements									129	41	82
Reserve development related to non-operating run-off insurance business									(303)	42	(263)
Net reserve discount (benefit) charge									(187)	427	71
Pension expense related to a one-time lump sum payment to former employees									(60)	(147)
Restructuring and other costs									(413)	(694)	(496)
Other									0	0	0
Pre-tax operating income (loss)									$ 1,466	$ (74)	$ 3,281