Schedule II (Condensed Statements Of Operations) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	$ 84	$ 63	$ 78
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments:
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	(5)	(13)	(15)
Net gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt	5	(1)	3
Other net realized gains (losses)	(282)	17	28
Total revenues	294	853	1,270
Interest	197	199	210
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(1)	109	72
Net income (loss)	(338)	180	569
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net investment income	29	35	44
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	(13)	59	24
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments:
Investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	(1)	(3)	0
Other-than-temporary impairments recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0	(1)	0
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	(1)	(4)	0
Net gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt	5	0	1
Other net realized gains (losses)	(5)	21	1
Total revenues	15	111	70
Operating	16	24	25
Interest	90	95	104
Total expenses	106	119	129
Gain (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(91)	(8)	(59)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(15)	1	(165)
Gain (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(76)	(9)	106
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries	(262)	189	463
Net income (loss)	$ (338)	$ 180	$ 569