Fair Value Measurements - Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets not carried at fair value [Abstract]
Policy loans	$ 2,188	$ 2,181
Mortgage Loans	5,304	4,489
Liabilities not carried at fair value [Abstract]
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable	10,837	11,155
Senior notes	4,880	4,880
Junior Subordinated debentures	1,734	1,727
Consumer notes	364	377
Policy loans [Member]
Financial Instruments, Financial Assets, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Loans Receivable, Fair Value Disclosure	2,318	2,294
Mortgage Loans [Member]
Financial Instruments, Financial Assets, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Loans Receivable, Fair Value Disclosure	5,393	4,524
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable [Member]
Financial Instruments, Financial Liabilities, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	11,141	11,383
Senior Notes [Member]
Financial Instruments, Financial Liabilities, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	5,167	5,072
Junior Subordinated Debentures [Member]
Financial Instruments, Financial Liabilities, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	2,634	2,596
Consumer notes [Member]
Financial Instruments, Financial Liabilities, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 377	$ 392

Assets Not Carried At Fair Value.

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Consumer Notes Net Of Portion Measured At Fair Value.

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Junior Subordinated Debentures Net Of Portion Measured At Fair Value.

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- Definition

Liabilities Not Carried At Fair Value.

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- Definition

Other Policyholder Funds And Benefits Payable Net Of Portion Measured At Fair Value.

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- Definition

Senior Notes Net Of Portion Measured At Fair Value.

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- Definition

Gross amount of loans made to policy and contract holders using their life insurance contracts' cash value or separate accounts as collateral.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-LHI
-Chapter 11
-Paragraph 104, 105, 106
-IssueDate 2006-05-01

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph e
-Article 7

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents loan receivable as presented on the statement of financial position which may include mortgage loans held for investment, finance receivables held for investment, policy loans on insurance contracts, or any other loans which are due the Company as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 114
-Paragraph 4

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- Definition

The balance represents the amount of loans that are secured by real estate mortgages, offset by the reserve to cover probable credit losses on the loan portfolio.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 60
-Paragraph 47

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph c
-Article 7

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+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 20, 22
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4

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