REVISION OF PRIOR PERIOD FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - BALANCE SHEET DISCLOSURES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets:
Other equity investments	$ 1,321			$ 1,351
Other invested assets	1,844			3,121
Total investments	73,055			68,098
DAC	5,011	$ 4,710	$ 4,707	4,492	$ 4,828	$ 4,850	$ 4,897	$ 5,025	$ 5,079
Amounts due from reinsurers	3,069	3,079		5,079	5,004
Current and deferred income taxes	456	162		0
GMIB reinsurance contract asset, at fair value	1,571			10,488	10,900
Other Assets	3,182			4,432	4,276
Total Assets	221,504	219,224	222,305	225,930	219,320	215,650	209,949	204,523	195,298
Liabilities:
Policyholders’ account balances	46,508			43,805
Liability for Future Policy Benefits And Other Liabilities		28,058	28,364	29,070				28,984	28,480
Future policy benefits and other policyholders liabilities	28,325			29,070	29,459	29,732	28,757
Other liabilities	2,205		3,111	2,663
Current and deferred income taxes	0		1,690	1,954	3,236	3,228	2,680	2,794	3,605
Total Liabilities	206,459	202,132	202,789	205,812	202,793	199,109	195,111	189,592	179,735
Equity:
Retained earnings	4,988	6,599	8,683	8,938	7,423	7,402	5,894	6,095	6,955
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(867)			598	331			(4)
AXA Equitable Equity	11,894	13,907	15,404	16,397	13,117	13,196	11,375	11,432	12,493
Noncontrolling interest	3,008			3,095
Equity	14,902	16,946	18,492	19,492	16,086	16,180	14,421	14,528	15,552
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 221,504	219,224	222,305	225,930	219,320	215,650	209,949	204,523	195,298
As Previously Reported
Assets:
DAC		4,786	4,826	4,547	4,550	4,913	4,961	5,058	5,084
Amounts due from reinsurers		3,088			5,016
Current and deferred income taxes		159
GMIB reinsurance contract asset, at fair value					10,933
Other Assets					4,258
Total Assets		219,306	222,424	225,985	219,069	215,713	210,013	204,556	195,303
Liabilities:
Liability for Future Policy Benefits And Other Liabilities		28,122	28,374	29,034				28,901	28,431
Future policy benefits and other policyholders liabilities					29,423	29,679	28,691
Other liabilities			3,041
Current and deferred income taxes			1,728	1,973	3,148	3,267	2,726	2,834	3,624
Total Liabilities		202,196	202,767	205,795	202,669	199,095	195,091	189,549	179,705
Equity:
Retained earnings		6,617	8,824	9,010	7,265		5,978	6,150	6,990
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)					362	7,479		17
AXA Equitable Equity		13,925	15,545	16,469	12,990	13,273	11,459	11,508	12,528
Equity		16,964	18,633	19,564	15,959	16,257	14,505	14,604	15,587
Total Liabilities and Equity		219,306	222,424	225,985	219,069	215,713	210,013	204,556	195,303
Impact of Revisions
Assets:
DAC		(76)	(119)	(55)	278	(63)	(64)	(33)	(5)
Amounts due from reinsurers		(9)			(12)
Current and deferred income taxes		3
GMIB reinsurance contract asset, at fair value					(33)
Other Assets					18
Total Assets		(82)	(119)	(55)	251	(63)	(64)	(33)	(5)
Liabilities:
Liability for Future Policy Benefits And Other Liabilities		(64)	(10)	36				83	49
Future policy benefits and other policyholders liabilities					36	53	66
Other liabilities			70
Current and deferred income taxes			(38)	(19)	88	(39)	(46)	(40)	(19)
Total Liabilities		(64)	22	17	124	14	20	43	30
Equity:
Retained earnings		(18)	(141)	(72)	158	(77)	(84)	(55)	(35)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)					(31)			(21)
AXA Equitable Equity		(18)	(141)	(72)	127	(77)	(84)	(76)	(35)
Equity		(18)	(141)	(72)	127	(77)	(84)	(76)	(35)
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ (82)	$ (119)	$ (55)	$ 251	$ (63)	$ (64)	$ (33)	$ (5)