TOTAL EQUITY AND EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended											12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2009 New Accounting Pronouncement - Other-than-temporary Impairments	Dec. 31, 2010 Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities	Jan. 02, 2010 Increases (decreases) from previously reported amounts Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities	Dec. 31, 2011 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Dec. 31, 2010 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Dec. 31, 2009 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Dec. 31, 2009 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) New Accounting Pronouncement - Other-than-temporary Impairments	Dec. 31, 2010 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities	Dec. 31, 2011 Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Fixed Maturity Investments on Which Other-Than-Temporary Credit Impairments Were Taken	Dec. 31, 2010 Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Fixed Maturity Investments on Which Other-Than-Temporary Credit Impairments Were Taken	Dec. 31, 2009 Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Fixed Maturity Investments on Which Other-Than-Temporary Credit Impairments Were Taken	Dec. 31, 2009 Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Fixed Maturity Investments on Which Other-Than-Temporary Credit Impairments Were Taken New Accounting Pronouncement - Other-than-temporary Impairments	Dec. 31, 2010 Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Fixed Maturity Investments on Which Other-Than-Temporary Credit Impairments Were Taken Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities	Apr. 02, 2009 Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Fixed Maturity Investments on Which Other-Than-Temporary Credit Impairments Were Taken Increases (decreases) from previously reported amounts New Accounting Pronouncement - Other-than-temporary Impairments	Dec. 31, 2011 Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of All Other Investments	Dec. 31, 2010 Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of All Other Investments	Dec. 31, 2009 Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of All Other Investments	Dec. 31, 2009 Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of All Other Investments New Accounting Pronouncement - Other-than-temporary Impairments	Dec. 31, 2010 Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of All Other Investments Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities	Apr. 02, 2009 Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of All Other Investments Increases (decreases) from previously reported amounts New Accounting Pronouncement - Other-than-temporary Impairments	Dec. 31, 2011 Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	Dec. 31, 2010 Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	Dec. 31, 2009 Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	Dec. 31, 2011 Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Arising From Cash Flow Hedging Activities	Dec. 31, 2010 Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Arising From Cash Flow Hedging Activities	Dec. 31, 2009 Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Arising From Cash Flow Hedging Activities	Dec. 31, 2011 Change in Retirement Plan Liabilities Adjustment	Dec. 31, 2010 Change in Retirement Plan Liabilities Adjustment	Dec. 31, 2009 Change in Retirement Plan Liabilities Adjustment
A roll forward of Accumulated other comprehensive income
Balance, beginning of period, net of tax	$ 7,624,000,000					$ (300,000,000)	$ 7,624,000,000	$ 5,693,000,000	$ (6,328,000,000)			$ (659,000,000)	$ (1,810,000,000)				$ (599,000,000)	$ 8,888,000,000	$ 7,145,000,000	$ (4,452,000,000)			$ 599,000,000	$ 298,000,000	$ 1,630,000,000	$ (187,000,000)	$ (34,000,000)	$ (128,000,000)	$ (191,000,000)	$ (869,000,000)	$ (1,144,000,000)	$ (1,498,000,000)
Change in unrealized appreciation of investments							5,518,000,000	9,910,000,000	33,221,000,000			55,000,000	2,645,000,000	2,392,000,000				5,463,000,000	7,265,000,000	30,829,000,000
Change in deferred acquisition costs adjustment and other							(819,000,000)	(946,000,000)	(3,890,000,000)			(11,000,000)	(166,000,000)	(345,000,000)				(830,000,000)	(780,000,000)	(3,545,000,000)
Change in future policy benefits							(2,302,000,000)											(2,302,000,000)
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustments							8,000,000	703,000,000	2,933,000,000															8,000,000	703,000,000	2,933,000,000
Change in net derivative losses arising from cash flow hedging activities							51,000,000	105,000,000	95,000,000																		51,000,000	105,000,000	95,000,000
Net actuarial gain (loss)							(752,000,000)	(1,000,000)	197,000,000																					(752,000,000)	(1,000,000)	197,000,000
Prior service credit							387,000,000	10,000,000	(29,000,000)																					387,000,000	10,000,000	(29,000,000)
Change attributable to divestitures and deconsolidations							(5,098,000,000)	(5,082,000,000)	(809,000,000)			23,000,000	43,000,000	1,000,000				(3,475,000,000)	(2,845,000,000)	607,000,000				(1,906,000,000)	(2,576,000,000)	(1,000,000)		(6,000,000)		260,000,000	(290,000,000)	(202,000,000)
Deferred tax asset (liability)							177,000,000	(2,242,000,000)	(11,579,000,000)			(163,000,000)	(1,293,000,000)	(724,000,000)				(355,000,000)	(1,529,000,000)	(9,802,000,000)				694,000,000	621,000,000	(1,005,000,000)	(34,000,000)	(17,000,000)	(32,000,000)	35,000,000	(24,000,000)	(16,000,000)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,830,000,000)	2,457,000,000	21,757,000,000				(2,830,000,000)	2,457,000,000	21,757,000,000			(74,000,000)	1,229,000,000	1,324,000,000				(1,499,000,000)	2,111,000,000	18,089,000,000				(1,204,000,000)	(1,252,000,000)	1,927,000,000	17,000,000	94,000,000	63,000,000	(70,000,000)	275,000,000	354,000,000
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax				2,478,000,000	(106,000,000)					(9,348,000,000)	(345,000,000)		(76,000,000)	(2,537,000,000)	(2,537,000,000)	(76,000,000)			(269,000,000)	(6,811,000,000)	(6,811,000,000)	(269,000,000)
Noncontrolling interests							(121,000,000)	181,000,000	388,000,000			3,000,000	2,000,000	(2,000,000)				(160,000,000)	99,000,000	280,000,000				36,000,000	80,000,000	110,000,000
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(560,000,000)						93,000,000											45,000,000						66,000,000						(18,000,000)
Balance, end of period, net of tax	5,008,000,000	7,624,000,000				(300,000,000)	5,008,000,000	7,624,000,000	5,693,000,000			(736,000,000)	(659,000,000)	(1,810,000,000)			(599,000,000)	7,594,000,000	8,888,000,000	7,145,000,000			599,000,000	(876,000,000)	298,000,000	1,630,000,000	(17,000,000)	(34,000,000)	(128,000,000)	(957,000,000)	(869,000,000)	(1,144,000,000)
Reduction of deferred acquisition costs																		152,000,000
Foreign currency cumulative translation adjustment transferred to earnings as net gain on sale		2,100,000,000
Unrealized appreciation of investments transferred to earnings as net gain on sale		$ 6,000,000,000