Derivative Instruments (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified within Twelve Months	$ 8
Maximum length of time hedged in cash flow hedge (in years)	17 years
Future policy benefits
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net	$ (6,223)	$ (8,152)
Policyholders' Account Balances
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net	(14)
Prudential Insurance \| Reinsurance Recoverables (Payables)
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net	184	232
Pruco Life \| Reinsurance Recoverables (Payables)
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net	$ 1	$ 12

The estimated net amount of existing gains or losses on cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=112277219&loc=d3e80748-113994

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Net fair value as of the balance sheet date of the embedded derivative or group of embedded derivatives classified as assets, net of those classified as liabilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

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- Definition

Maximum length of time over which the entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, excluding those forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
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