Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 3,062	$ 2,998	$ 2,871	$ 2,765	$ 3,103	$ 2,886	$ 3,128	$ 3,053	$ 11,696	[1]	$ 12,170	[1]	$ 12,268	[1]
Pretax income	469	238	410	475	446	463	615	618	1,592		2,142		2,547
Net income	400	215	335	364	380	352	476	479	1,314		1,687		2,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests					23	(45)	61	86	$ 0		$ 125		$ 381
Net income attributable to Ameriprise Financial	$ 400	$ 215	$ 335	$ 364	$ 357	$ 397	$ 415	$ 393
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (in dollars per basic share)	$ 2.49	$ 1.31	$ 1.99	$ 2.11	$ 2.02	$ 2.20	$ 2.26	$ 2.11	$ 7.90		$ 8.60		$ 8.45
Net income (in dollars per diluted share)	$ 2.46	$ 1.30	$ 1.97	$ 2.09	$ 2.00	$ 2.17	$ 2.23	$ 2.08	$ 7.81		$ 8.48		$ 8.30
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic	160.4	164.0	168.3	172.6	176.6	180.4	183.8	186.3	166.3		181.7		191.6
Diluted	162.4	165.8	170.1	174.4	178.9	182.7	186.4	189.1	168.2		184.2		195.0
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.75	$ 0.75	$ 0.75	$ 0.67	$ 0.67	$ 0.67	$ 0.67	$ 0.58	$ 2.92		$ 2.59		$ 2.26
Common share price:
High (in dollars per share)	119.32	101.81	102.74	105.47	120.29	129.22	131.76	138.26	119.32		120.29
Low (in dollars per share)	$ 86.25	$ 84.93	$ 84.92	$ 76.00	$ 100.08	$ 95.52	$ 120.83	$ 121.49	$ 86.25		$ 100.08

[1] Includes foreign net revenues of $656, $1,038 and $1,315 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.