SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Other equity investments	$ 1,463	$ 1,408
Total Assets	209,098	203,678	$ 194,663
Total liabilities	192,712	187,000	177,144
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	417	403
Total AXA Equitable’s equity	12,934	13,190	14,447
Noncontrolling interest	3,035	3,085	$ 3,059
Insurance
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	194,898	190,542
Investment Management
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	14,200	13,139
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Investment Management
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity, nonconsolidated net assets	49,300
Variable Interest Entity, maximum loss exposure	24
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity, unfunded commitments	692
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement | Other Equity Investments
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity, nonconsolidated net assets	161,127
Variable Interest Entity, maximum loss exposure	1,196
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement | Insurance
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Other equity investments	1,196
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary, Aggregated Disclosure
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	1,095	956
Total liabilities	398	293
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	395	384
Total AXA Equitable’s equity	78	71
Noncontrolling interest	$ 33	$ 35