Separate Accounts, Death Benefits and Other Insurance Benefit Features Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	$ 22,829	[1]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	3,414	[2]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk at Annuitization	537	[2]
Separate Accounts, Liability	135,803	[1]		134,702
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment, Fair Value	47,549			48,852
Invested in Fixed Income Securities	17.00%
Invested in Equity Securities	83.00%
Equity Securities Including Mutual Funds [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment, Fair Value	43,532			44,786
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment, Fair Value	4,017			4,066
Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit [Member] | UNITED STATES
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	8,200
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk at Annuitization	0
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	70 years
MAV Only [Member]
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	16,577	[1],[3]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	2,519	[2],[3]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk at Annuitization	379	[2],[3]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	70 years	[3]
With Five Percent Rollup [Member]
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	1,433	[1],[3],[4]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	199	[2],[3],[4]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk at Annuitization	57	[2],[3],[4]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	70 years	[3],[4]
With Earnings Protection Benefit Rider (EPB) [Member]
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	4,275	[1],[3],[5]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	581	[2],[3],[5]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk at Annuitization	77	[2],[3],[5]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	69 years	[3],[5]
With Five Percent Rollup and EPB [Member]
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	544	[1],[3]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	115	[2],[3]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk at Annuitization	24	[2],[3]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	71 years	[3]
Asset Protection Benefit ("APB") [Member]
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	14,304	[1],[6]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	195	[2],[6]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk at Annuitization	128	[2],[6]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	68 years	[6]
Lifetime Income Benefit ("LIB") - Death Benefit [Member]
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	608	[1],[7]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	7	[2],[7]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk at Annuitization	7	[2],[7]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	68 years	[7]
Reset [Member]
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	2,895	[1],[8]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	14	[2],[8]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk at Annuitization	14	[2],[8]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	69 years	[8]
Return of Premium ROP Other [Member]
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	10,864	[1],[9]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	53	[2],[9]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk at Annuitization	47	[2],[9]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	67 years	[9]
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member]
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	3,951	[1]
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | UNITED STATES
Movement in Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB, International GMDB/GMIB, and UL Secondary Guarantee Benefits [Roll Forward]
Liability, balance as of January 1	812				854	849
Incurred	41		46
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Benefits Paid	(29)		(30)
Liability balance as of September 30	800				854	849
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of January 1	481				532	533
Incurred	24		26
Paid	(22)		(22)
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of September 30	477				532	533
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	51,500	[1]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	3,683	[2]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk at Annuitization	733	[2]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	69 years
Separate Accounts, Liability	47,549	[1]
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | JAPAN
Account Value by GMDB Type [Abstract]
Separate Accounts, Liability	88,254	[1]
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | Reinsurance Recoverables [Member] | UNITED STATES
Movement in Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB, International GMDB/GMIB, and UL Secondary Guarantee Benefits [Roll Forward]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost, Amortization Expense, Effect of Adjustments to Estimated Gross Profit	6		5
GMDB GMIB [Member] | UNITED STATES
Movement in Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB, International GMDB/GMIB, and UL Secondary Guarantee Benefits [Roll Forward]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost, Amortization Expense, Effect of Adjustments to Estimated Gross Profit	24		11
GMDB GMIB [Member] | International [Member]
Movement in Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB, International GMDB/GMIB, and UL Secondary Guarantee Benefits [Roll Forward]
Liability, balance as of January 1					288	272
Incurred			15
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Benefits Paid			(8)
Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost, Amortization Expense, Effect of Adjustments to Estimated Gross Profit			(3)
Liability balance as of September 30					288	272
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of January 1					29	23
Incurred			2
Paid			(2)
Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost, Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			6
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of September 30					29	23
GMDB GMIB [Member] | Reinsurance Recoverables [Member] | International [Member]
Movement in Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB, International GMDB/GMIB, and UL Secondary Guarantee Benefits [Roll Forward]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost, Amortization Expense, Effect of Adjustments to Estimated Gross Profit			(6)
Secondary Guarantees [Member] | Universal Life [Member]
Movement in Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB, International GMDB/GMIB, and UL Secondary Guarantee Benefits [Roll Forward]
Liability, balance as of January 1	2,041				1,858	1,802
Incurred	66		56
Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost, Amortization Expense, Effect of Adjustments to Estimated Gross Profit	3
Liability balance as of September 30	2,104				1,858	1,802
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of January 1	2,041				1,858	1,802
Incurred	63		56
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of September 30	$ 2,104				$ 1,858	$ 1,802

[1] AV includes the contract holder’s investment in the separate account and the general account.

[2] [9]NAR is defined as the guaranteed benefit in excess of the current AV. RNAR represents NAR reduced for reinsurance. NAR and RNAR are highly sensitive to equity markets movements and increase when equity markets decline.

[3] MAV GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid and the highest AV on any anniversary before age 80 years (adjusted for withdrawals).

[4] Rollup GMDB is the greatest of the MAV, current AV, net premium paid and premiums (adjusted for withdrawals) accumulated at generally 5% simple interest up to the earlier of age 80 years or 100% of adjusted premiums.

[5] EPB GMDB is the greatest of the MAV, current AV, or contract value plus a percentage of the contract’s growth. The contract’s growth is AV less premiums net of withdrawals, subject to a cap of 200% of premiums net of withdrawals.

[6] APB GMDB is the greater of current AV or MAV, not to exceed current AV plus 25% times the greater of net premiums and MAV (each adjusted for premiums in the past 12 months).

[7] LIB GMDB is the greatest of current AV; net premiums paid; or, for certain contracts, a benefit amount generally based on market performance that ratchets over time.

[8] Reset GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid and the most recent five to seven year anniversary AV before age 80 years (adjusted for withdrawals).

[9] ROP GMDB is the greater of current AV or net premiums paid.