BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment client_channel	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment											4
Number of main client channels | client_channel											3
Income (loss) from operations, before income taxes		$ 20	$ 2,034	$ (175)					$ 1,857	$ 1,876	$ 2,255	$ 622	$ 1,038
Reconciliation to net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable		(1)	1,502	(172)					1,328	1,326	2,860	210	662
Non-GAAP Operating Earnings											1,745	1,317	1,165
Interest expense											29	16	20
Reconciliation of segment revenues
Segment revenues	$ 2,442	$ 2,429	$ 4,548	$ 2,314	$ (213)	$ 2,153	$ 3,297	$ 3,901	$ 6,859	$ 9,288	11,733	9,138	8,961
Investment income, investment expense											65	66	56
Intersegment investment advisory and other fees											1,148	999	1,056
Reconciliation of segment assets
Assets	225,985				204,556						225,985	204,556
Corporate and Other
Reconciliation to net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable
Non-GAAP Operating Earnings											(121)	(95)	(156)
Interest expense											23	13	19
Reconciliation of segment revenues
Segment revenues											907	935	913
Reconciliation of segment assets
Assets	20,494				23,164						20,494	23,164
Segment Reconciling Items
Reconciliation to net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable											2,860	210	662
GMxB features											282	1,511	818
Investment (gains) losses											125	(16)	20
Investment income (loss) from certain derivative instruments											18	6	(104)
Net actuarial (gains) losses related to pension and other postretirement benefit obligations											132	135	137
Other adjustments											49	15	(11)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to above adjustments											(183)	(566)	(279)
Non-recurring tax items											(1,538)	22	(78)
Reconciliation of segment revenues
GMxB features											381	(1,500)	(818)
Investment gains (losses)											(125)	16	(20)
Investment income (loss) from certain derivative instruments											(18)	(6)	104
Other adjustments to segment revenues											197	157	(38)
Intersegment Eliminations
Reconciliation of segment revenues
Investment income, investment expense											52	50	45
Intersegment investment advisory and other fees											81	77	73
Individual Retirement | Operating Segments
Reconciliation to net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable
Non-GAAP Operating Earnings											1,230	1,026	911
Reconciliation of segment revenues
Segment revenues											3,788	3,239	2,548
Reconciliation of segment assets
Assets	120,612				106,249						120,612	106,249
Group Retirement | Operating Segments
Reconciliation to net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable
Non-GAAP Operating Earnings											287	173	166
Reconciliation of segment revenues
Segment revenues											972	822	806
Reconciliation of segment assets
Assets	40,472				33,300						40,472	33,300
Investment Management and Research | Operating Segments
Reconciliation to net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable
Non-GAAP Operating Earnings											139	108	136
Reconciliation of segment revenues
Segment revenues											3,214	2,931	3,015
Reconciliation of segment assets
Assets	10,079				9,533						10,079	9,533
Protection Solutions | Operating Segments
Reconciliation to net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable
Non-GAAP Operating Earnings											210	105	108
Reconciliation of segment revenues
Segment revenues											2,417	2,544	2,451
Reconciliation of segment assets
Assets	$ 34,328				$ 32,310						34,328	32,310
Non-US | Investment Management and Research
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations, before income taxes											$ 139	$ 109	$ 111