Reinsurance - Reinsurance Recoverables (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	$ 7,086	$ 7,299
Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Number of external reinsurers	3	3
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits (GMDB) [Member] | Berkshire Hathway Life Insurance Company Of Nebraska [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	1,185	1,276
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits (GMDB) [Member] | Berkshire Hathway Life Insurance Company Of Nebraska [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | Ceded Credit Risk Secured [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables percentage of total	100.00%
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits (GMDB) [Member] | Other Retrocessionaires [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	40	41
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits (GMDB) [Member] | Other Retrocessionaires [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | Ceded Credit Risk Secured [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables percentage of total	98.00%
Individual Life Insurance And Annuity [Member] | The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company And Lincoln Life And Annuity Of New York [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	3,825	3,905
Retirement Benefits [Member] | Prudential Retirement Insurance And Annuity Company [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	1,115	1,200
Retirement Benefits [Member] | Prudential Retirement Insurance And Annuity Company [Member] | Ceded Credit Risk Secured [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables percentage of total	100.00%
Supplemental Benefits business (resulting from the acquistion) [Member] | Great American Life Insurance Company [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	342	363
Supplemental Benefits business (resulting from the acquistion) [Member] | Great American Life Insurance Company [Member] | Ceded Credit Risk Secured [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables percentage of total	100.00%
Ongoing Operations [Member] | Other Retrocessionaires [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	485	407
Number of external reinsurers	80
Maximum reinsurance recoverable from a single reinsurer.	110
Ongoing Operations [Member] | Other Retrocessionaires [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Minimum reinsurance recoverable balance from a single reinsurer	1
Ongoing Operations [Member] | Other Retrocessionaires [Member] | Ceded Credit Risk Secured [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables percentage of total	10.00%
Other run-off reinsurance [Member] | Other Retrocessionaires [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	94	107
Other run-off reinsurance [Member] | Other Retrocessionaires [Member] | Ceded Credit Risk Secured [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables percentage of total	90.00%
GMIB Assets (reported in Other Assets) [Member] | Berkshire Hathway Life Insurance Company Of Nebraska [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
GMIB Assets (reported in Other Assets)	409	352
GMIB Assets (reported in Other Assets) [Member] | Berkshire Hathway Life Insurance Company Of Nebraska [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit [Member] | Ceded Credit Risk Secured [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
GMIB Assets percentage of total	100.00%
GMIB Assets (reported in Other Assets) [Member] | Other Retrocessionaires [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
GMIB Assets (reported in Other Assets)	$ 471	$ 399
Number of external reinsurers	2
GMIB Assets (reported in Other Assets) [Member] | Other Retrocessionaires [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit [Member] | Ceded Credit Risk Secured [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
GMIB Assets percentage of total	38.00%