EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS - Fair Value of Plan Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	$ 101	$ 87	$ 86
AB Qualified Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	101	87
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets, excluding net asset value investments	79	68
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	79	68
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets, excluding net asset value investments	79	68
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	0	0
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets, excluding net asset value investments	0	0
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	0	0
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets, excluding net asset value investments	0	0
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Common and preferred equity
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	24	21
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Common and preferred equity | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	24	21
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Common and preferred equity | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	0	0
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Common and preferred equity | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	0	0
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Mutual funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	55	47
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Mutual funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	55	47
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Mutual funds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	0	0
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Mutual funds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, fair value of plan assets	0	0
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Investments measured at net assets value
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, alternative investments, fair value of plan assets	22	19
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Investments measured at net assets value | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, alternative investments, fair value of plan assets	0	0
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Investments measured at net assets value | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, alternative investments, fair value of plan assets	0	0
AB Qualified Retirement Plan | Investments measured at net assets value | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, alternative investments, fair value of plan assets	$ 0	$ 0