Earnings per Share Attributable to Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Common Shareholders (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 366	$ 249
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	30	4
Income from continuing operations attributable to Ameriprise Financial	336	245
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1)	(1)
Net income attributable to Ameriprise Financial	$ 335	$ 244
Denominator:
Basic: Weighted-average common shares outstanding	208.4	227.3
Effect of potentially dilutive nonqualified stock options and other share-based awards (in shares)	3.9	4.4
Diluted: Weighted-average common shares outstanding	212.3	231.7
Basic:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.61	$ 1.08
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.01)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.61	$ 1.07
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.58	$ 1.06
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.01)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.58	$ 1.05
Effect of potentially dilutive nonqualified stock options and other share-based awards (in shares)	1.6	5.2