REVISION OF PRIOR PERIOD FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - STATEMENT OF EQUITY DISCLOSURES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year					$ 14,421
Beginning of year	$ 16,946	$ 18,492	$ 19,492	$ 16,180	14,421	$ 14,528	$ 19,492	$ 14,528	$ 19,492	$ 14,528	$ 14,528	$ 15,552
Net income (loss)	(382)	(1,928)	(109)	143	1,621	(83)	(2,037)	1,538	(2,419)	1,681	3,377	686	$ 1,046
Net earnings (loss)	(511)	(2,084)	(263)	21	1,508	(201)	(2,347)	1,307	(2,858)	1,328	2,843	190	648
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(406)			(68)				422	(1,475)	354	620	(236)
End of year						14,421
End of year	14,902	16,946	18,492	16,086	16,180	14,421	16,946	16,180	14,902	16,086	19,492	14,528	15,552
As Previously Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year					14,505
Beginning of year	16,964	18,633	19,564	16,257	14,505	14,604	19,564	14,604	19,564	14,604	14,604	15,587
Net income (loss)		(1,958)	(40)		1,613	(54)	(2,091)	1,559		1,677	3,394	706	1,060
Net earnings (loss)		(2,114)	(194)		1,500	(172)	(2,401)	1,328		1,324	2,860	210	662
Other comprehensive income (loss)						127		401		380	599	(215)
End of year						14,505
End of year		16,964	18,633	15,959	16,257	14,505	16,964	16,257		15,959	19,564	14,604	15,587
Impact of Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year					(84)
Beginning of year	(18)	(141)	(72)	(77)	(84)	(76)	(72)	(76)	(72)	(76)	(76)	(35)
Net income (loss)		30	(69)		8	(29)	54	(21)		4	(17)	(20)	(14)
Net earnings (loss)		30	(69)		8	(29)	54	(21)		4	(17)	(20)	(14)
Other comprehensive income (loss)						21		21		(26)	21	(21)
End of year						(84)
End of year		(18)	(141)	127	(77)	(84)	(18)	(77)		127	(72)	(76)	(35)
As Revised
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss)						148
Parent
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year					11,375
Beginning of year	13,907	15,404	16,397	13,196		11,432	16,397	11,432	16,397	11,432	11,432	12,493
End of year						11,375
End of year	11,894	13,907	15,404	13,117	13,196		13,907	13,196	11,894	13,117	16,397	11,432	12,493
Parent | As Previously Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year					11,459
Beginning of year	13,925	15,545	16,469	13,273		11,508	16,469	11,508	16,469	11,508	11,508	12,528
End of year						11,459
End of year		13,925	15,545	12,990	13,273		13,925	13,273		12,990	16,469	11,508	12,528
Parent | Impact of Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year					(84)
Beginning of year	(18)	(141)	(72)	(77)		(76)	(72)	(76)	(72)	(76)	(76)	(35)
End of year						(84)
End of year		(18)	(141)	127	(77)		(18)	(77)		127	(72)	(76)	(35)
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year				7,402		6,095		6,095		6,095	6,095
Beginning of year	6,599	8,683	8,938		5,894	6,095	8,938	6,095	8,938	6,095	6,095	6,955	7,219
Net income (loss)			(263)				(2,347)				2,843	190	648
Net earnings (loss)								1,307
End of year					7,402			7,402				6,095
End of year	4,988	6,599	8,683	7,423		5,894	6,599		4,988	7,423	8,938	6,095	6,955
Retained Earnings | As Previously Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year						5,941		5,941		5,941	5,941
Beginning of year				7,479		6,151		6,151		6,151	6,151
Beginning of year	6,617	8,824	9,010		5,978	6,150	9,010	6,150	9,010	6,150	6,150	6,990	7,240
Net income (loss)			(194)				(2,401)				2,860	210	662
Net earnings (loss)								1,328
End of year					7,479			7,479				6,151
End of year				7,265						7,265		5,941
End of year		6,617	8,824			5,978	6,617				9,010	6,150	6,990
Retained Earnings | Impact of Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year						154		154		154	154
Beginning of year				(77)		(56)		(56)		(56)	(56)
Beginning of year	(18)	(141)	(72)		(84)	(55)	(72)	(55)	(72)	(55)	(55)	(35)	(21)
Net income (loss)							54				(17)	(20)	(14)
Net earnings (loss)								(21)
End of year					(77)			(77)				(56)
End of year				158						158		154
End of year		$ (18)	(141)			(84)	(18)				(72)	(55)	$ (35)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year				431	137	(4)		(4)		(4)	(4)
Beginning of year			598			(4)	598	(4)	598	(4)	(4)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(403)			(100)		141		435	(1,465)	335	602	(219)
End of year					431	137		431				(4)
End of year	(867)			331					(867)	331	598	(4)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable | As Previously Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year						1		1		1	1
Beginning of year				431	137	17		17		17	17
Beginning of year						17		17		17	17
Other comprehensive income (loss)						120		414		361	581	(198)
End of year					431	137		431				17
End of year												1
End of year				362						362		17
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable | Impact of Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year						(5)		(5)		(5)	(5)
Beginning of year				0	0	(21)		(21)		(21)	(21)
Beginning of year						(21)		(21)		(21)	(21)
Other comprehensive income (loss)						21		21		(26)	21	(21)
End of year					$ 0	0		0				(21)
End of year												(5)
End of year				(31)						(31)		(21)
Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year			$ 3,095			$ 3,096	$ 3,095	$ 3,096	3,095	3,096	3,096
Other comprehensive income (loss)									(10)	19
End of year	$ 3,008			$ 2,969					$ 3,008	$ 2,969	$ 3,095	$ 3,096