Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 716	$ 287	$ 962
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:
Loss on sale of subsidiaries			451
Investment (gains) losses	(50)	71	(47)
Equity method investees	221	182	64
Amortization of investments	(27)	17	3
Depreciation	841	955	899
Impairment of goodwill		20
Asset impairments	697	865	228
Provision for deferred income taxes	102	(225)	11
Other non-cash items	73	105	134
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net:
Receivables	24	120	738
Deferred acquisition costs	(8)	311	44
Insurance reserves	237	241	(363)
Other assets	(71)	(43)	(128)
Other liabilities	26	(33)	123
Trading securities	(528)	674	(129)
Net cash flow operating activities	2,253	3,547	2,990
Investing Activities:
Purchases of fixed maturities	(9,827)	(8,675)	(9,381)
Proceeds from sales of fixed maturities	5,332	4,390	4,914
Proceeds from maturities of fixed maturities	3,219	4,095	3,983
Purchases of limited partnership investments	(355)	(188)	(271)
Proceeds from sales of limited partnership investments	327	174	167
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(1,450)	(1,555)	(2,753)
Acquisitions	(79)	(157)	(448)
Dispositions	330	33	1,031
Change in short term investments	158	120	1,396
Other, net	158	(172)	(108)
Net cash flow investing activities	(2,187)	(1,935)	(1,470)
Financing Activities:
Dividends paid	(84)	(90)	(95)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(134)	(165)	(338)
Purchases of subsidiary stock from noncontrolling interests	(8)	(29)	(149)
Purchases of Loews treasury stock	(134)	(1,265)	(622)
Issuance of Loews common stock		7	6
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary stock		114	5
Principal payments on debt	(3,418)	(1,929)	(2,269)
Issuance of debt	3,614	1,828	2,004
Other, net	(2)	4	16
Net cash flow financing activities	(166)	(1,525)	(1,442)
Effect of foreign exchange rate on cash	(13)	(11)	(8)
Net change in cash	(113)	76	70
Cash, beginning of year	440	364	294
Cash, end of year	$ 327	$ 440	$ 364