Investments and Derivative Instruments Level 4 Investment Income (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Investment Income [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	[1]	$ (104,000,000)		$ (353,000,000)		$ (125,000,000)
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal		28,000,000		23,000,000		(1,574,000,000)
Net Investment Income [Abstract]
Net Investment Income		3,030,000,000		3,154,000,000		3,264,000,000
Investment Income, Investment Expense		(118,000,000)		(122,000,000)		(115,000,000)
Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses) Table [Abstract]
Gain on Derivative Instruments, Pretax		460,000,000		527,000,000		2,313,000,000
Loss on Derivative Instruments, Pretax		405,000,000		250,000,000		659,000,000
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net		102,000,000		59,000,000		73,000,000
Periodic Net Coupon Settlements on Credit Derivatives		11,000,000		1,000,000		(8,000,000)
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)		(156,000,000)		16,000,000		1,798,000,000
Gain (Loss) on Investments, Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments		(54,000,000)		75,000,000		296,000,000
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings, Reductions, Change in Status		2,000,000		0		2,000,000
Sale of Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings, Credit Losses on Debt Securities Held		324,000,000		424,000,000		552,000,000		$ 1,013,000,000
Fixed Maturities [Member]
Net Investment Income [Abstract]
Net Investment Income	[3]	2,409,000,000	[2]	2,420,000,000	[2]	2,552,000,000
Equity Securities [Member]
Net Investment Income [Abstract]
Net Investment Income		25,000,000		38,000,000		30,000,000
Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses) Table [Abstract]
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net		16,000,000		2,000,000		15,000,000
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]
Net Investment Income [Abstract]
Net Investment Income		267,000,000		265,000,000		260,000,000
Policy Loans [Member]
Net Investment Income [Abstract]
Net Investment Income		82,000,000		80,000,000		83,000,000
Limited Partnerships and Other Alternative Investments [Member]
Net Investment Income [Abstract]
Net Investment Income		227,000,000		294,000,000		287,000,000
Other Investments [Member]
Net Investment Income [Abstract]
Net Investment Income	[5]	138,000,000	[4]	179,000,000	[4]	167,000,000
Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses) Table [Abstract]
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)		18,000,000		(193,000,000)		198,000,000
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]
Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses) Table [Abstract]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Adjustments		5,000,000		4,000,000		1,000,000
Retirement Plans and Individual Life Businesses [Member] | Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]
Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses) Table [Abstract]
Gain (Loss) on Investments, Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments		1,500,000,000				1,500,000,000
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]
Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses) Table [Abstract]
Gain (Loss) on Investments, Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments		(32,000,000)		217,000,000		1,515,000,000	[6]
Equity Securities [Member]
Sale of Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gains (Losses), Sale Proceeds		1,319,000,000		354,000,000		274,000,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gains		61,000,000		22,000,000		96,000,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Losses		(46,000,000)		(20,000,000)		(20,000,000)
Debt Securities [Member]
Sale of Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gains (Losses), Sale Proceeds		20,615,000,000		22,923,000,000		39,225,000,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gains		372,000,000		456,000,000		2,143,000,000	[7]
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Losses		(317,000,000)		(182,000,000)		(654,000,000)
Retirement Plans and Individual Life Businesses [Member]
Investment Income [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal						71
GMWB Product Derivatives [Member] | UNITED STATES
Investment Income [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net						1,306,000,000
Three Win Related Foreign Currency Swaps [Member] | JAPAN
Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses) Table [Abstract]
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item in Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge		4,000,000		116,000,000		250,000,000
Macro Hedge Program [Member] | UNITED STATES
Investment Income [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net						(234,000,000)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | GMWB Product Derivatives [Member] | UNITED STATES
Investment Income [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(59,000,000)		(2,000,000)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fixed Annuity Hedging Instruments [Member] | JAPAN
Investment Income [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	[8]	(21,000,000)		(148,000,000)		(268,000,000)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Variable Annuity [Member] | UNITED STATES
Investment Income [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(133,000,000)		(6,000,000)		28,000,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | GMWB Derivatives, Net [Member] | UNITED STATES
Investment Income [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(87,000,000)		5,000,000		262,000,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Macro Hedge Program [Member] | UNITED STATES
Investment Income [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		$ (46,000,000)		$ (11,000,000)		$ (234,000,000)

[1] [3]Excludes investments that contain an embedded credit derivative for which the Company has elected the fair value option. For further discussion, see the Fair Value Option section in Note 4 - Fair Value Measurements.

[2] Includes net investment income on short-term investments.

[3] [1]Includes net investment income on short-term investments

[4] Includes income from derivatives that hedge fixed maturities and qualify for hedge accounting.

[5] [2]Includes income from derivatives that hedge fixed maturities and qualify for hedge accounting.

[6] The December 31, 2013 amount includes $1.5 billion of net unrealized gains on securities relating to the sales of the Retirement Plans and Individual Life businesses.

[7] Includes $1.5 billion of gross gains related to the sale of the Individual Life and Retirement Plans businesses for the year ended December 31, 2013.

[8] The associated liability is adjusted for changes in spot rates through realized capital gains and was $4, $116 and $250 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively