CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Right-of-Use Asset Obtained in Exchange for Operating Lease Liability	$ 4	$ 0
Investments transferred in connection with reinsurance transaction	1,265
Net income	395	594
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	46	56
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(2)	104
Share-based compensation	30	32
Net realized investment (gains) losses	(10)	(6)
Net trading (gains) losses	(4)	(3)
Loss from equity method investments	12	12
Other than Temporary Impairments and Provision for Loan Losses	5
Net (gains) losses of consolidated investment entities	4	1
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted and segregated investments	(25)	75
Deferred acquisition costs	(55)	13
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims, net	(201)	(325)
Derivatives, net of collateral	316	29
Receivables	125	(78)
Brokerage deposits	(264)	(207)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(177)	(373)
Change in Other Operating Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated Investment Entities	1	3
Other, net	(24)	(115)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	172	(188)
Available-for-Sale securities:
Proceeds from sales	92	361
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls	1,986	1,195
Purchases	(2,085)	(1,456)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	64	75
Funding of mortgage loans	(43)	(40)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and collections of other investments	51	224
Purchase of other investments	(93)	(272)
Purchase of investments by consolidated investment entities	(203)	(116)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of investments by consolidated investment entities	132	130
Purchase of land, buildings, equipment and software	(31)	(33)
Payments for Derivative Instrument, Investing Activities	(42)	(57)
Proceeds from Derivative Instrument, Investing Activities	35	53
Change In Reinsurance Deposit, Net	(345)
Other, net	1	3
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(481)	67
Investment certificates:
Proceeds from additions	1,618	1,336
Maturities, withdrawals and cash surrenders	(1,377)	(1,192)
Policyholder account balances:
Deposits and other additions	585	444
Net transfers from (to) separate accounts	(1)	(28)
Surrenders and other benefits	(476)	(501)
Cash paid for purchased options with deferred premiums	(44)	(45)
Cash received from purchased options with deferred premiums	12	24
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs	497
Repayments of long-term debt	(3)	(3)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(124)	(122)
Repurchase of common shares	(385)	(425)
Exercise of stock options	1	2
Repayments of debt by consolidated investment entities	(12)	(52)
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities		(2)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	291	(564)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	7	12
Cash and Cash Equivalents including Disposal Group, Period Increase (Decrease)	(11)	(673)
Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents of Disposal Group, Period Increase (Decrease)	111	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, including amounts restricted and cash balances classified as assets held-for-sale	(122)	(673)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	$ 5,761	$ 4,471