SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Schedule of Restatements made to the Consolidated Statement of Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Universal life and investment-type product policy fee income	$ 896	$ 815	$ 3,435	$ 3,341	$ 3,182
Premiums	225	215	880	854	874
Increase (decrease) in the fair value of the reinsurance contract asset	(514)	1,629	(269)	(141)	3,962
Revenues	2,142	5,029	9,709	9,952	15,705
Policyholders' benefits	833	1,118	2,854	2,866	4,074
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances	548	245	1,655	906	1,077
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	125	0	243	(312)	(375)
Other operating costs and expenses	384	378	1,458	1,497	1,668
Total benefits and other deductions	2,715	2,526	9,416	8,265	9,796
Earnings (loss) from operations, before income taxes	(573)	2,503	293	1,687	5,909
Income tax (expense) benefit	260	(751)	(199)	197	1,622
Net earnings (loss)	(313)	1,752	492	1,490	4,287
Less: net (earnings) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	118	117	(496)	(403)	(387)
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to AXA Equitable	$ (431)	1,635	(4)	1,087	3,900
As previously reported
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Universal life and investment-type product policy fee income		901	3,423	3,208	3,115
Premiums		126	880	854	874
Increase (decrease) in the fair value of the reinsurance contract asset		1,637	(261)	(141)	3,964
Revenues		5,034	9,705	9,819	15,640
Policyholders' benefits		1,150	2,893	2,799	3,708
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances		277	1,555	978	1,186
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		(10)	162	(331)	(413)
Other operating costs and expenses			1,458	1,415	1,692
Total benefits and other deductions		2,580	9,274	8,169	9,525
Earnings (loss) from operations, before income taxes		2,454	431	1,650	6,115
Income tax (expense) benefit		(734)	(113)	186	1,695
Net earnings (loss)		1,720	544	1,464	4,420
Less: net (earnings) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest			(469)	(403)	(387)
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to AXA Equitable		1,603	75	1,061	4,033
Adjustments
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Universal life and investment-type product policy fee income		(86)	12	133	67
Premiums		89	0	0	0
Increase (decrease) in the fair value of the reinsurance contract asset		(8)	(8)	0	(2)
Revenues		(5)	4	133	65
Policyholders' benefits			(39)	67	366
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances			100	(72)	(109)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs			81	19	38
Other operating costs and expenses			0	82	(24)
Total benefits and other deductions		(54)	142	96	271
Earnings (loss) from operations, before income taxes		49	(138)	37	(206)
Income tax (expense) benefit		(17)	(86)	11	(73)
Net earnings (loss)		32	(52)	26	(133)
Less: net (earnings) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest			(27)	0	0
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to AXA Equitable		$ 32	$ (79)	$ 26	$ (133)