Investments and Derivative Instruments Level 4 Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting (Details) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / Barrels	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		$ 62,185	$ 72,850
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		1,730	1,741
Maximum Aggregate Principal Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes		500
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(926)	(639)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		933	1,175
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	[1]	(104)	(353)	$ (125)
Invested Assets Suppoting Modco		895	1,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		58,492	68,676
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		1,962	1,876
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(924)	(664)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		1,038	1,212
Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Reinsurance Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net				67
Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Reinsurance Contracts [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		46	(34)
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(15)	(172)	50
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		18	6	5
Put Option [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(6)	(6)	(7)
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		12,900	13,100
Credit Default Swap, Selling Protection [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(11)	16	71
Equity Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		19	3	(33)
Commodity Option [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(9)	0	0
Credit Default Swap, Buying Protection [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		8	(10)	(38)
Derivatives formerly associated with Japan [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	[2]	0	(2)	0
UNITED STATES | GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		10,979	14,442
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		158	174
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net				(852)
UNITED STATES | GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		10,979	14,442
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		106	115
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		158	174
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		264	289
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(45)	3
UNITED STATES | GMWB Product Derivatives [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net				1,306
UNITED STATES | GMWB Product Derivatives [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(59)	(2)
UNITED STATES | GMWB Reinsurance [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net				(192)
UNITED STATES | GMWB Reinsurance [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		17	4
JAPAN | Three Win Related Foreign Currency Swaps [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item in Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge		4	116	250
JAPAN | Fixed Annuity Hedging Instruments [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	[3]	(21)	(148)	(268)
Commodity Option [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Cost of Hedge		$ 0
Derivative, Price Risk Option Strike Price | $ / Barrels		35
Other Contract [Member] | UNITED STATES | GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		$ 5,877	7,041
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		131	124
Put Option [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Maximum Aggregate Principal Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes		500
Put Option [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		500	500
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		0	0
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		7	12
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		7	12
Macro Hedge Program [Member] | UNITED STATES
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		4,548	6,383
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		147	141
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net				(234)
Macro Hedge Program [Member] | UNITED STATES | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(46)	(11)	(234)
Macro Hedge Program [Member] | UNITED STATES | Equity Option [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		4,548	5,983
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		147	141
Macro Hedge Program [Member] | JAPAN | Foreign Exchange Option [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		0	400
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		0	0
Lehman Brothers [Member] | Derivative [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) from Hedged Firm Commitment Not Qualifying as Fair Value Hedge, Net		3	13	$ 0
Reinsurance Recoverable [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		4,000	4,633
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		0	0
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		162	90
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		$ 162	$ 90

[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] ]

[3] 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