Investments and Derivative Instruments (Details 14) (USD $) In Millions	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	$ 126,446	$ 136,854
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(404)	(547)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	2,726	2,775
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(3,130)	(3,322)
Cash flow hedges [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	10,243	10,625
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	190	121
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	233	217
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(43)	(96)
Cash flow hedging interest rate swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	9,941	10,290
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	183	115
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	206	188
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(23)	(73)
Cash flow hedges foreign currency swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	302	335
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	7	6
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	27	29
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(20)	(23)
Fair value hedges [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	1,954	1,797
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(45)	(58)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	97	76
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(142)	(134)
Fair Value hedging interest rate swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	1,277	1,120
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(60)	(46)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	1	5
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(61)	(51)
Fair value hedges - Foreign currency swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	677	677
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	15	(12)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	96	71
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(81)	(83)
Non-qualifying strategies [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	114,249	124,432
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(549)	(610)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	2,396	2,482
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(2,945)	(3,092)
Interest rate swaps caps floors and futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	9,044	7,938
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(354)	(441)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	219	126
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(573)	(567)
Foreign currency swaps and forwards non-qualifying as hedges [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	369	368
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(29)	(18)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	0	1
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(29)	(19)
Japan 3Win related foreign currency swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	2,285	2,285
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	152	177
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	152	177
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	0	0
Japanese fixed annuity hedging instruments [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	2,137	2,119
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	487	608
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	494	608
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(7)	0
Japanese variable annuity hedging instruments [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	3,526	1,720
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	10	73
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	61	74
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(51)	(1)
Credit derivatives that purchase credit protection [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	1,396	2,559
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(10)	(9)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	17	29
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(27)	(38)
Credit derivatives that assume credit risk [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	2,270	2,569
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(444)	(434)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	5	8
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(449)	(442)
Credit derivatives in offsetting positions [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	8,535	8,367
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(70)	(75)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	114	98
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(184)	(173)
Equity index swaps options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	192	189
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(8)	(10)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	6	5
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(14)	(15)
GMWB product derivatives [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	39,593	42,739
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(1,450)	(1,647)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	0	0
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(1,450)	(1,647)
GMWB Reinsurance [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	7,886	8,767
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	237	280
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	237	280
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	0	0
GMAB product derivatives [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	237	246
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	0	3
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	0	3
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	0	0
Contingent capital facility put option [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	500	500
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	30	32
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	30	32
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	0	0
GMWB hedging instruments [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	17,606	17,856
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	429	467
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	575	647
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(146)	(180)
Macro hedge program [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	18,673	26,210
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	471	384
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	486	394
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	$ (15)	$ (10)