Fair Value Measurements - Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, carrying value	$ 61,437	$ 225,260
Assets, fair value	40,779	40,297
Liabilities, carrying value	48,708	211,766
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, fair value	1,948	2,029
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, fair value	36,251	35,950
Carrying Amount | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, carrying value	784	825
Carrying Amount | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, carrying value	3,559	3,175
Carrying Amount | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Senior notes [1]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, carrying value	3,587	3,415
Carrying Amount | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Junior subordinated debentures [1]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, carrying value	1,089	1,583
Fair Value | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	785	827
Fair Value | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, fair value	3,518	3,220
Fair Value | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Senior notes [1]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	3,940	4,054
Fair Value | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Junior subordinated debentures [1]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	$ 1,142	$ 1,699