SHARE-BASED AND OTHER COMPENSATION PROGRAMS - Stock Option Activity (Details) - Parent $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares € / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2017 € / shares
AXA Ordinary Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Options, Number Outstanding, Beginning Balance (in shares)	9,536	9,536
Options granted (in shares)	488	488
Options exercised (in shares)	(1,996)	(1,996)
Options forfeited, net (in shares)	0	0
Options expired/reinstated (in shares)	(2,626)	(2,626)
Options, Number Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)	5,402	5,402
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share) | € / shares		€ 21.02
Options granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | € / shares		23.92
Options exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | € / shares		18.02
Options forfeited, net, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | € / shares		0.00
Options expired/reinstated, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | € / shares		33.77
Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending Balance (in dollars per share) | € / shares		€ 17.36
Options Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	$ 39,861	€ 39,861
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	4 years 2 months 12 days	4 years 2 months 12 days
Options Exercisable (in shares)	3,406	3,406
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | € / shares			€ 14.68
Options Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	$ 34,275	€ 34,275
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	2 years 9 months 18 days	2 years 9 months 18 days
AXA ADRs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Options, Number Outstanding, Beginning Balance (in shares)	45	45
Options granted (in shares)	0	0
Options exercised (in shares)	(2)	(2)
Options forfeited, net (in shares)	0	0
Options expired/reinstated (in shares)	(8)	(8)
Options, Number Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)	35	35
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 24.90
Options granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0.00
Options exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	21.35
Options forfeited, net, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0.00
Options expired/reinstated, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	42.62
Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending Balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 20.98
Options Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	$ 303,000	€ 303,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	1 year 2 months 12 days	1 year 2 months 12 days
Options Exercisable (in shares)	35	35
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 42.62	€ 42.62
Options Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	$ 303	€ 303
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	1 year 2 months 12 days	1 year 2 months 12 days
AB Holding Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Options, Number Outstanding, Beginning Balance (in shares)	5,085	5,085
Options granted (in shares)	0	0
Options exercised (in shares)	(1,180)	(1,180)
Options forfeited, net (in shares)	0	0
Options expired/reinstated (in shares)	(823)	(823)
Options, Number Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)	3,082	3,082
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 49.45
Options granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0.00
Options exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	17.04
Options forfeited, net, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0.00
Options expired/reinstated, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	84.96
Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending Balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 52.37
Options Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	$ 0	€ 0
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	1 year 2 months 12 days	1 year 2 months 12 days
Options Exercisable (in shares)	3,018	3,018
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 52.97	€ 52.97
Options Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	$ 0	€ 0
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	1 year 1 month 6 days	1 year 1 month 6 days