CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Parent	Equity	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interest	Continuing Operations Noncontrolling Interest	Discontinued Operations Noncontrolling Interest	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment Parent	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment Retained Earnings	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 19,395	$ 16,300	$ 2	$ 6,859	$ 8,860	$ 579	$ 3,095	$ 19	$ 3,076
Beginning balance (Accounting Standards Update 2014-09) at Dec. 31, 2017										$ 8	$ 8	$ 8
Beginning balance (Accounting Standards Update 2018-12) at Dec. 31, 2017										0		(83)	$ 83
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Transfer for Deferred tax asset in GMxB Unwind	1,209	1,209		1,209
Settlement of intercompany payables in GMxB Unwind	(297)	(297)		(297)
Dividend to parent company	(1,672)	(1,672)			(1,672)
Distribution of discontinued subsidiary	(1,175)	(1,175)			(1,175)
Transfer of accumulated other comprehensive income to discontinued operations	62	62				62
Reclassification of net earnings (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(2)						(2)	(2)
De-consolidation of real estate joint ventures	(8)						(8)	(8)
Transfer of AB Holding Units	(3,076)						(3,076)		(3,076)
Net income (loss)	(896)	(899)			(899)		3	3
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,225)	(1,225)				(1,225)
Other	36	36		36
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	12,359	12,347	2	7,807	5,039	(501)	12	12	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividend to parent company	(1,005)	(1,005)			(1,005)
Transfer of AB Holding Units	0								0
Net income (loss)	(1,889)	(1,889)			(1,889)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,097	2,097				2,097
Other	3	2		2			1	1
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	11,565	11,552	2	7,809	2,145	1,596	13	13	0	$ (32)	$ (32)	$ (32)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividend to parent company	(2,149)	(2,149)			(2,149)
Net income (loss)	(760)	(759)			(759)		(1)	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,999	2,999				2,999
Other	20	32		32			(12)	(12)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 11,643	$ 11,643	$ 2	$ 7,841	$ (795)	$ 4,595	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accounting standards update [extensible list]	efl:AccountingStandardsUpdate201603Member