Schedule II (Condensed Statements Of Operations) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	$ (17)	$ (24)	$ 84
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments:
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	(5)	(106)	(5)
Net gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt	3	28	5
Other net realized gains (losses)	0	31	(282)
Total revenues	162	433	294
Interest	206	197	197
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	944	(1)
Net income (loss)	(296)	(1,605)	(338)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net investment income	35	35	29
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	20	(34)	(13)
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments:
Investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	0	0	(1)
Other-than-temporary impairments recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	0	0	(1)
Net gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt	3	28	5
Other net realized gains (losses)	(2)	(3)	(5)
Total revenues	56	26	15
Operating	11	13	16
Interest	93	87	90
Total expenses	104	100	106
Gain (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(48)	(74)	(91)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(35)	507	(15)
Gain (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(13)	(581)	(76)
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries	(283)	(1,024)	(262)
Net income (loss)	$ (296)	$ (1,605)	$ (338)