RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 13, 2019	Apr. 12, 2018	Nov. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Nov. 12, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Transfer to investments		$ 7,600,000,000
Notes reduction		300,000,000
Deferred tax asset, intra-entity transfer, asset other than inventory		1,200,000,000
Guaranteed minimum income benefit reinsurance asset, at fair value						$ 2,859,000,000	$ 2,466,000,000
Ceded premiums							3,000,000	$ 4,000,000
Assumed premiums earned affiliated							19,000,000	20,000,000
Reinsurance effect on claims and benefits incurred amount assumed affiliates							6,000,000	8,000,000
Repayments of related party debt						0	572,000,000	0
Capital contributions from parent						0	25,000,000
Parent Company | EQH-AEL internal debt (3.69%, due 2021)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans from affiliates				$ 800,000,000
Related party transaction, rate (as a percent)				3.69%
Repayments of related party debt						300,000,000	200,000,000	300,000,000
Outstanding debt						0
Parent Company | EQH-AEL internal debt (one-month LIBOR 1.33%, due 2024)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans from affiliates			$ 900,000,000
Related party transaction, rate (as a percent)			1.33%
Outstanding debt						900,000,000
AXA Affiliates
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Repayment of note							81,000,000	111,000,000
Unfunded commitments						163,000,000	205,000,000
AXA Affiliates | Non-consolidated Vairable Interest Entities
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Net assets							10,000,000,000
AXA | AXA Affiliates
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent									39.00%
Ownership percentage	10.00%
AllianceBernstein | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Repayment of note						97,000,000	102,000,000
AllianceBernstein | Affiliated Entity | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Invested assets						64,000,000	30,000,000
AllianceBernstein | Affiliated Entity | Non-consolidated Vairable Interest Entities
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Net assets						623,000,000	974,000,000
Unfunded commitments						90,000,000	20,000,000
AXA Arizona
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance, loss on uncollectible accounts in period, amount					$ 2,600,000,000
Reinsurance, loss on uncollectible accounts in period, amount, net of tax					2,100,000,000
Reinsurance, write off of deferred costs					$ 1,800,000,000
Reinsurance, difference in cost basis						400,000,000
EQ AZ Life Re
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guaranteed minimum income benefit reinsurance asset, at fair value						327,000,000
EQ AZ Life Re | Universal Life And No Lapse Guarantee Riders
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ceded premiums						51,000,000	62,000,000	100,000,000
Ceded claims paid						72,000,000	52,000,000	78,000,000
XL Catlin
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Liabilities for guarantees on long-duration contracts, guaranteed benefit liability, gross							104,000,000
AXA Affiliates | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Invested assets						218,000,000	229,000,000
AXA Affiliates | Non-consolidated Vairable Interest Entities
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Net assets						13,000,000,000
Cost Sharing And General Service Agreements
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Repayment of note						$ 41,000,000	$ 73,000,000	138,000,000
Assets Removed
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party, amount of transaction		11,889,000,000
Payable to AXA RE Arizona | Assets Removed
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party, amount of transaction		$ 270,000,000
AXA France
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Consideration										$ 143,000,000
Gain (loss) on disposal								$ (200,000)