Derivative Instruments (Financial Statement Classification and Impact of Derivatives Used in Qualifying and Non-qualifying Hedge Relationships) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	$ (6,465)	$ (1,508,100)	$ 626,655	$ (1,495,619)
Net Investment Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	2,085	1,514	3,700	2,845
Other Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	10,567	(3,344)	6,518	(6,090)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	14,699	(9,304)	1,727	(15,123)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Cash flow hedges | Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Cash flow hedges | Net Investment Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	2,085	1,514	3,700	2,845
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Cash flow hedges | Other Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	10,483	(3,110)	6,489	(5,812)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Cash flow hedges | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	14,699	(9,304)	1,727	(15,123)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Cash flow hedges | Currency/Interest Rate | Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Cash flow hedges | Currency/Interest Rate | Net Investment Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	2,085	1,514	3,700	2,845
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Cash flow hedges | Currency/Interest Rate | Other Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	10,483	(3,110)	6,489	(5,812)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Cash flow hedges | Currency/Interest Rate | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	14,699	(9,304)	1,727	(15,123)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	(6,465)	(1,508,100)	626,655	(1,495,619)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Net Investment Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Other Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	84	(234)	29	(278)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Interest Rate | Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	(404,238)	734,805	(1,588,033)	565,999
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Interest Rate | Net Investment Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Interest Rate | Other Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Interest Rate | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Currency | Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	794	(63)	324	(77)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Currency | Net Investment Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Currency | Other Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Currency | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Currency/Interest Rate | Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	17,388	(10,749)	4,056	(11,354)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Currency/Interest Rate | Net Investment Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Currency/Interest Rate | Other Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	84	(234)	29	(278)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Currency/Interest Rate | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Equity | Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	(251,520)	(396,574)	(239,454)	(1,015,085)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Equity | Net Investment Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Equity | Other Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Equity | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Embedded Derivatives | Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	631,111	(1,835,519)	2,449,762	(1,035,102)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Embedded Derivatives | Net Investment Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Embedded Derivatives | Other Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	0	0	0	0
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments: | Embedded Derivatives | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0