CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income	$ 2,036	$ 395
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	47	46
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	1,273	(2)
Share-based compensation	36	30
Net realized investment (gains) losses	(5)	(10)
Net trading (gains) losses	(3)	(4)
Loss from equity method investments	19	12
Impairments and provision for loan losses	21	5
Net (gains) losses of consolidated investment entities	6	4
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted and segregated investments	0	(25)
Deferred acquisition costs	452	(55)
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims, net	2,634	(201)
Derivatives, net of collateral	(681)	316
Receivables	(13)	125
Brokerage deposits	378	(264)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(432)	(177)
Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(1,081)	33
Change in Other Operating Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated Investment Entities	(1)	1
Other, net	207	(57)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	4,893	172
Available-for-Sale securities:
Proceeds from sales	633	92
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls	2,050	1,986
Purchases	(2,529)	(2,085)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	54	64
Funding of mortgage loans	(62)	(43)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and collections of other investments	77	51
Purchase of other investments	(115)	(93)
Purchase of investments by consolidated investment entities	(133)	(203)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of investments by consolidated investment entities	141	132
Purchase of land, buildings, equipment and software	(29)	(31)
Payments for Derivative Instrument, Investing Activities	(258)	(42)
Proceeds from Derivative Instrument, Investing Activities	95	35
Cash paid for deposit receivable	(1)	(345)
Cash received for deposit receivable	30	0
Other, net	7	1
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(40)	(481)
Investment certificates:
Proceeds from additions	1,271	1,618
Maturities, withdrawals and cash surrenders	(1,449)	(1,377)
Policyholder account balances:
Deposits and other additions	255	585
Net transfers from (to) separate accounts	30	(1)
Surrenders and other benefits	(430)	(476)
Change in banking deposits, net	2,372	0
Cash paid for purchased options with deferred premiums	(36)	(44)
Cash received from purchased options with deferred premiums	0	12
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs	0	497
Repayments of long-term debt	(753)	(3)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(122)	(124)
Repurchase of common shares	(480)	(385)
Exercise of stock options	1	1
Repayments of debt by consolidated investment entities	(29)	(12)
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	(2)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	628	291
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(17)	7
Cash and Cash Equivalents including Disposal Group, Period Increase (Decrease)	5,464	(11)
Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents of Disposal Group, Period Increase (Decrease)	0	111
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, including amounts restricted and cash balances classified as assets held-for-sale	5,464	(122)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period	6,213	5,883
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, End of Period	11,677	$ 5,761
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Including Disposal Group and Discontinued Operations	$ 11,677