Business Segments (Summary Of Segments Within Wind-Down Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt	$ 26		$ 60		$ 269
Revenues of consolidated VIEs	392		364		(19)
Total revenues	(1,557)		894		2,954
Expenses of consolidated VIEs	91		83		102
Total expenses	682		989		1,737
Income (loss) before income taxes	(2,239)		(95)		1,217
Identifiable assets	26,873		32,279		25,701
Asset/Liability Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	90	[1]	109	[1]	192	[1]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	(276)		(76)		146
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	(31)		(59)		(352)
Net gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt	24		35		203
Other net realized gains (losses)	4		0		4
Revenues of consolidated VIEs	11		44		(13)
Inter-segment revenues	(19)	[2]	(13)	[2]	(1)	[2]
Total revenues	(197)		40		179
Operating expenses	3		5		25
Interest expense	109		125		169
Expenses of consolidated VIEs	2		0		0
Inter-segment expenses	29	[2]	58	[2]	112	[2]
Total expenses	143		188		306
Income (loss) before income taxes	(340)		(148)		(127)
Identifiable assets	3,752		5,125		6,191
Conduits [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues			4	[1]	1	[1]
Revenues of consolidated VIEs	20		52		52
Inter-segment revenues	(4)	[2]	(4)	[2]	(3)	[2]
Total revenues	16		52		50
Operating expenses			(1)		2
Expenses of consolidated VIEs	19		19		14
Inter-segment expenses	66	[2]	3	[2]	5	[2]
Total expenses	85		21		21
Income (loss) before income taxes	(69)		31		29
Identifiable assets	1,531		1,565		1,992
Wind-Down Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Inter-segment revenues			(1)	[2]	1	[2]
Total revenues			(1)		1
Inter-segment expenses			(1)	[2]	(1)	[2]
Total expenses			(1)		(1)
Income (loss) before income taxes					2
Identifiable assets	(80)		(258)		(91)
Wind-Down Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	90	[1]	113	[1]	193	[1]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	(276)		(76)		146
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	(31)		(59)		(352)
Net gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt	24		35		203
Other net realized gains (losses)	4		0		4
Revenues of consolidated VIEs	31		96		39
Inter-segment revenues	(23)	[2],[3]	(18)	[2],[3]	(3)	[2],[3]
Total revenues	(181)		91		230
Operating expenses	3		4		27
Interest expense	109		125		169
Expenses of consolidated VIEs	21		19		14
Inter-segment expenses	95	[2],[3]	60	[2],[3]	116	[2],[3]
Total expenses	228		208		326
Income (loss) before income taxes	(409)		(117)		(96)
Identifiable assets	$ 5,203		$ 6,432		$ 8,092

[1] Represents the sum of third-party interest income, investment management services fees and other fees.

[2] Represents intercompany asset management fees and expenses plus intercompany interest income and expense pertaining to intercompany debt.

[3] Represents intercompany premium income and expense, intercompany asset management fees and expenses, and intercompany interest income and expense pertaining to intercompany receivable and payables.