Segment Information - Net revenues and Operating Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021		Sep. 30, 2020		Sep. 30, 2021		Sep. 30, 2020
Net revenues
Total net revenues	$ 2,903		$ 3,003		$ 9,671		$ 8,716
Operating earnings
Pretax income (loss)	1,270		(184)		2,484		1,641
Advice and Wealth Management Segment
Net revenues
Total net revenues	1,787		1,448		5,130		4,250
Asset Management Segment
Net revenues
Total net revenues	903		726		2,583		2,054
Retirement and Protection Solutions Segment
Net revenues
Total net revenues	712		671		2,073		1,976
Corporate and Other Segment
Net revenues
Total net revenues	113		132		370		413
Reportable segments
Net revenues
Total net revenues	3,910		3,319		11,329		9,699
Operating earnings
Pretax income (loss)	850		227		2,410		1,456
Reportable segments | Advice and Wealth Management Segment
Net revenues
Total net revenues	2,048		1,667		5,907		4,899
Operating earnings
Pretax income (loss)	459		320		1,271		969
Reportable segments | Asset Management Segment
Net revenues
Total net revenues	915		739		2,622		2,093
Operating earnings
Pretax income (loss)	285		198		766		496
Reportable segments | Retirement and Protection Solutions Segment
Net revenues
Total net revenues	834		781		2,429		2,295
Operating earnings
Pretax income (loss)	187		(89)		552		300
Reportable segments | Corporate and Other Segment
Net revenues
Total net revenues	113		132		371		412
Operating earnings
Pretax income (loss)	(81)		(202)		(179)		(309)
Intersegment eliminations
Net revenues
Total net revenues	(395)	[1]	(342)	[1]	(1,173)	[2]	(1,006)	[2]
Intersegment eliminations | Advice and Wealth Management Segment
Net revenues
Total net revenues	(261)		(219)		(777)		(649)
Intersegment eliminations | Asset Management Segment
Net revenues
Total net revenues	(12)		(13)		(39)		(39)
Intersegment eliminations | Retirement and Protection Solutions Segment
Net revenues
Total net revenues	(122)		(110)		(356)		(319)
Intersegment eliminations | Corporate and Other Segment
Net revenues
Total net revenues	0		0		(1)		1
Segment reconciling items
Net revenues
Net realized gains (losses)	14		4		81		(19)
Revenue attributable to CIEs	42		21		92		52
Market impact on non-traditional long-duration products, net (revenues)	(1)		1		25		(10)
Mean reversion related impacts, net revenue					1
Market impact on hedges on investments	(23)				(40)
Block transfer reinsurance transaction impacts	(644)				(644)
Total net revenues	(612)		26		(485)		23
Operating earnings
Net realized gains (losses	12		4		78		(18)
Net income (loss) attributable to consolidated investment entities	2				(1)		(2)
Market impact on non-traditional long-duration products, net	(94)		(431)		(577)		239
Mean reversion related impacts	9		17		107		(30)
Market impact of hedges on investments	(23)				(40)
Block transfer reinsurance transaction impacts	521				521
Integration and restructuring charges	(7)		(1)		(14)		(4)
Total Segments after intersegment eliminations | Reportable segments
Net revenues
Total net revenues	$ 3,515		$ 2,977		$ 10,156		$ 8,693

[1] Represents the elimination of intersegment revenues recognized for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 in each segment as follows: Advice & Wealth Management ($261 million and $219 million, respectively); Asset Management ($12 million and $13 million, respectively); Retirement & Protection Solutions ($122 million and $110 million, respectively); and Corporate & Other (nil and nil, respectively).

[2] Represents the elimination of intersegment revenues recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 in each segment as follows: Advice & Wealth Management ($777 million and $649 million, respectively); Asset Management ($39 million and $39 million, respectively); Retirement & Protection Solutions ($356 million and $319 million, respectively); and Corporate & Other ($1 million and $(1) million, respectively).