Segment Information - Operating net revenues (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total segment adjusted operating revenues		$ 3,732	$ 3,341
Total net revenues		3,350	3,001
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Pretax income		493	2,351
Reportable segments
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total segment adjusted operating revenues		3,633	3,289
Total net revenues		3,254	2,951
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Segment Reporting Information Operating Earnings		779	652
Reportable segments | Advice and Wealth Management Segment
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total segment adjusted operating revenues		1,879	1,695
Total net revenues		1,629	1,473
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Segment Reporting Information Operating Earnings		389	378
Reportable segments | Asset Management Segment
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total segment adjusted operating revenues		828	686
Total net revenues		815	673
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Segment Reporting Information Operating Earnings		228	157
Reportable segments | Retirement & Protection Solutions Segment
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total segment adjusted operating revenues		787	759
Total net revenues		671	655
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Segment Reporting Information Operating Earnings		183	167
Reportable segments | Nonsegment
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total segment adjusted operating revenues		139	149
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Segment Reporting Information Operating Earnings		(21)	(50)
Intersegment eliminations
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total segment adjusted operating revenues	[1]	379	338
Intersegment eliminations | Advice and Wealth Management Segment
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total segment adjusted operating revenues		250	222
Intersegment eliminations | Asset Management Segment
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total segment adjusted operating revenues		13	13
Intersegment eliminations | Retirement & Protection Solutions Segment
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total segment adjusted operating revenues		116	104
Intersegment eliminations | Nonsegment
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total segment adjusted operating revenues		0	(1)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total segment adjusted operating revenues		382	340
Net realized gains (losses)		57	(20)
Revenues attributable to CIEs		34	16
Market impact on non-traditional long-duration products, net (revenues)		5	55
Mean reversion related impacts, net revenue			(1)
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Net realized gains (losses		55	(20)
Net Income of Consolidated Investment Entities		(1)	(2)
Market impact on non-traditional long-duration products, net		(396)	1,783
Mean reversion related impacts		$ 56	(61)
Integration and restructuring charges			$ (1)

[1] Represents the elimination of intersegment revenues recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 in each segment as follows: Advice & Wealth Management ($250 million and $222 million, respectively); Asset Management ($13 million and $13 million, respectively); Retirement & Protection Solutions ($116 million and $104 million, respectively); and Corporate & Other (nil and $(1) million, respectively).