Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Income Statement) (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Net investment income [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	$ 2	$ (16)	$ (1)
Net investment income [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Interest rate contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	3	(21)	1
Net investment income [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(1)		(4)
Net investment income [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income		4	2
Net investment income [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Other contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income		1
Banking and deposit interest expense [Member] | SMC embedded derivatives [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(2)		(3)
Banking and deposit interest expense [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	0	0	0
Banking and deposit interest expense [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	2		3
Distribution expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	22	0	8
Distribution expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	23	1	13
Distribution expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(1)	(1)	(5)
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | IUL embedded derivatives [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	15	(8)	(27)
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | EIA embedded derivatives [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income		1	(2)
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	35	(17)	(8)
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	20	(10)	21
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	237	(372)	(1,054)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(624)	(450)	(290)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Interest rate contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	38	241	1,122
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(836)	(304)	(304)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Credit contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	2	(1)	(33)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income		13	(9)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Other contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(65)	(27)	(12)
General and administrative expense [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	20	0	3
General and administrative expense [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	6	2	4
General and administrative expense [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	$ 14	$ (2)	$ (1)