Consolidating Financial Statements (details) - Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income	$ 925	$ 499	$ 1,821	$ 1,305
Changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities having no credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income	(1,790)	216	(2,166)	139
Changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities having credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income	(5)	5	4	30
Net changes in benefit plan assets and obligations	26	22	54	42
Net changes in unrealized foreign currency translation	(73)	(86)	(169)	(22)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes	(1,842)	157	(2,277)	189
Income tax expense (benefit)	(636)	66	(761)	64
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes, before other comprehensive income (loss) of subsidiaries	(1,206)	91	(1,516)	125
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	(1,206)	91	(1,516)	125
Comprehensive income (loss)	(281)	590	305	1,430
TPC [Member]
Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income	742	394	1,392	1,012
Changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities having no credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income	(1,282)	167	(1,597)	113
Changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities having credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income	(2)	5	5	21
Net changes in benefit plan assets and obligations			1
Net changes in unrealized foreign currency translation	(51)	(54)	(61)	(33)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes	(1,335)	118	(1,652)	101
Income tax expense (benefit)	(462)	43	(570)	36
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes, before other comprehensive income (loss) of subsidiaries	(873)	75	(1,082)	65
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	(873)	75	(1,082)	65
Comprehensive income (loss)	(131)	469	310	1,077
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income	231	145	524	394
Changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities having no credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income	(509)	52	(576)	20
Changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities having credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income	(3)		(1)	9
Net changes in benefit plan assets and obligations	1	1	3
Net changes in unrealized foreign currency translation	(22)	(32)	(108)	11
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes	(533)	21	(682)	40
Income tax expense (benefit)	(183)	16	(211)	11
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes, before other comprehensive income (loss) of subsidiaries	(350)	5	(471)	29
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	(350)	5	(471)	29
Comprehensive income (loss)	(119)	150	53	423
Travelers [Member]
Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income	925	499	1,821	1,305
Changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities having no credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income	1	(3)	7	6
Net changes in benefit plan assets and obligations	25	21	50	42
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes	26	18	57	48
Income tax expense (benefit)	9	7	20	17
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes, before other comprehensive income (loss) of subsidiaries	17	11	37	31
Other comprehensive income (loss) of subsidiaries	(1,223)	80	(1,553)	94
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	(1,206)	91	(1,516)	125
Comprehensive income (loss)	(281)	590	305	1,430
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income	(973)	(539)	(1,916)	(1,406)
Other comprehensive income (loss) of subsidiaries	1,223	(80)	1,553	(94)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	1,223	(80)	1,553	(94)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 250	$ (619)	$ (363)	$ (1,500)