COMMITMENT AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]
Advances from Federal Home Loan Banks	$ 2,620		$ 2,238
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings	3,382		7,738
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings	3,000		6,000
AXA Equitable
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]
Letters of credit outstanding	20
Equity financing arrangements with Limited Partnerships	801
Equity financing arrangements with affiliates	226
Mortgage loans on real estate	852
Facility Closing \| Other Operating Costs and Expenses \| Alliance Bernstein \| AB Consolidation Plan
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]
Restructuring Charges	21	$ 25
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Short-Term Funding Agreements Maturing in Less than One Month [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]
Advances from Federal Home Loan Banks	500		500
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings	3,000		6,000
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings	3,000		6,000
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Long-Term Funding Agreements Maturing in Less than Four Years [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]
Advances from Federal Home Loan Banks	548		58
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings	174		58
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings	0		0
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Long-Term Funding Agreements Maturing in Less than Five Years [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]
Advances from Federal Home Loan Banks	828		862
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings	208		862
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings	0		0
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Long-Term Funding Agreements Maturing in Greater than Five Years [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]
Advances from Federal Home Loan Banks	744		818
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings	0		818
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings	0		0
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Long-Term Funding Agreements [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]
Advances from Federal Home Loan Banks	2,120		1,738
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings	382		1,738
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings	$ 0		$ 0

Commitments Under Equity Financing Arrangements To Limited Partnerships

No definition available.

Name:	axaeq_CommitmentsUnderEquityFinancingArrangementsToLimitedPartnerships
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowings as of the balance sheet date from the Federal Home Loan Bank, which are primarily used to cover shortages in the required reserve balance and liquidity shortages.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479118&loc=d3e64650-112822

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdvancesFromFederalHomeLoanBanks
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of Equity in net profit and loss for the period. Give totals for each group. If operations of any controlled companies are different in character from those of the company, group such affiliates (1) within divisions and (2) by type of activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14(Column C))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611322-123010

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14(6))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611322-123010

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611322-123010

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesAmountOfEquity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the contractual principal due at the origination of the mortgage loan (face amount).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 310
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow from a borrowing made from Federal Home Loan Bank.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3255-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromFederalHomeLoanBankBorrowings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for the payment of loan drawn from Federal Home Loan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3291-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfFederalHomeLoanBankBorrowings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=axaeq_AxaEquitableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_FacilityClosingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=axaeq_OtherOperatingCostsandExpensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=axaeq_AllianceBernsteinMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=axaeq_ABConsolidationPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axaeq_FederalHomeLoanBankofNewYorkShortTermFundingAgreementsMaturinginLessthanOneMonthMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axaeq_FederalHomeLoanBankofNewYorkLongTermFundingAgreementsMaturinginLessthanFourYearsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axaeq_FederalHomeLoanBankofNewYorkLongTermFundingAgreementsMaturinginLessthanFiveYearsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axaeq_FederalHomeLoanBankofNewYorkLongTermFundingAgreementsMaturinginGreaterthanFiveYearsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axaeq_FederalHomeLoanBankofNewYorkLongTermFundingAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: