Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Shares	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Appropriated Retained Earnings of Consolidated Investment Entities	Treasury Shares	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Non-controlling Interests	Comprehensive Income
Balances at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 6,463	$ 3	$ 4,688	$ 4,586		$ (2,012)	$ (1,091)	$ 289
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008		216,510,699
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Change in accounting principles, net of tax				132			(132)
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	737			722				15	737
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Change in net unrealized securities gains (losses)	1,354						1,354		1,354
Change in noncredit related impairments on securities and net unrealized securities losses on previously impaired securities	49						49		49
Change in net unrealized derivatives gains (losses)	11						11		11
Change in defined benefit plans	19						19		19
Foreign currency translation adjustment	77						55	22	77
Total comprehensive income	2,247								2,247
Issuance of common stock	869		869
Issuance of common stock (in shares)	36,000,000	36,000,000
Dividends to shareholders	(164)			(164)
Noncontrolling interests investments in subsidiaries	322							322
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(45)							(45)
Repurchase of common shares	(11)					(11)
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)		(822,166)
Share-based compensation plans	191		191
Share-based compensation plans (in shares)		3,406,958
Balances at Dec. 31, 2009	9,872	3	5,748	5,276		(2,023)	265	603
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		255,095,491
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Change in accounting principles, net of tax	473				473
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	1,260			1,097				163	1,260
Net income (loss) reclassified to appropriated retained earnings					85			(85)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Change in net unrealized securities gains (losses)	288						288		288
Change in noncredit related impairments on securities and net unrealized securities losses on previously impaired securities	17						17		17
Change in net unrealized derivatives gains (losses)	15						15		15
Change in defined benefit plans	(4)						(4)		(4)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(43)						(16)	(27)	(43)
Total comprehensive income	1,533								1,533
Dividends to shareholders	(183)			(183)
Noncontrolling interests investments in subsidiaries	77							77
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(171)							(171)
Repurchase of common shares	(597)					(597)
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)		(13,924,062)
Share-based compensation plans	281		281
Share-based compensation plans (in shares)		5,526,463
Balances at Dec. 31, 2010	11,285	3	6,029	6,190	558	(2,620)	565	560
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		246,697,892
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	970			1,076				(106)	970
Net income (loss) reclassified to appropriated retained earnings					(130)			130
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Change in net unrealized securities gains (losses)	164						164		164
Change in noncredit related impairments on securities and net unrealized securities losses on previously impaired securities	(9)						(9)		(9)
Change in net unrealized derivatives gains (losses)	(29)						(29)		(29)
Change in defined benefit plans	(51)						(51)		(51)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(10)						(2)	(8)	(10)
Total comprehensive income	1,035								1,035
Dividends to shareholders	(274)			(274)
Noncontrolling interests investments in subsidiaries	155							155
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(54)							(54)
Repurchase of common shares	(1,495)					(1,495)
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)		(28,812,873)
Share-based compensation plans	309		208	(9)		81		29
Share-based compensation plans (in shares)		4,057,964
Balances at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 10,961	$ 3	$ 6,237	$ 6,983	$ 428	$ (4,034)	$ 638	$ 706
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		221,942,983