Derivative Instruments (Financial Statement Classification and Impact of Derivatives Used in Qualifying and Non-qualifying Hedge Relationships) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	$ 75,810	$ 1,173,163	$ 702,465	$ (322,456)
Net Investment Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	2,141	1,678	5,841	4,523
Other Income
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	2,517	(3,810)	9,035	(9,900)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) Recognized In Income Net	257	(12,020)	1,984	(27,143)
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	2,141	1,678	5,841	4,523
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	2,484	(3,496)	8,973	(9,308)
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	257	(12,020)	1,984	(27,143)
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	2,141	1,678	5,841	4,523
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	2,484	(3,496)	8,973	(9,308)
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	257	(12,020)	1,984	(27,143)
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	75,810	1,173,163	702,465	(322,456)
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	33	(314)	62	(592)
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	(772,889)	52,535	(2,360,922)	618,534
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	213	(230)	537	(307)
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	1,224	(11,358)	5,279	(22,712)
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	33	(314)	62	(592)
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	(640,413)	(453,516)	(879,866)	(1,468,601)
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	1,487,675	1,585,732	3,937,437	550,630
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