Commitments, Guarantees and Contingent Liabilities (Details 3) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 17, 2015 Plaintiff	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) claim Plaintiff	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) item claim employee case	Aug. 19, 2015 opinion	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Guarantees:
Limitations or indemnifications of reinsurance agreements		$ 0	$ 0
Proceedings:
Number of former employee agents | item			32
Number of former employee agents plaintiffs seek benefits for | employee			6,300
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs | Plaintiff	10	459
Reserves for asbestos claims		$ 960	$ 960		$ 1,010
Reinsurance recoverables for asbestos claims		458	458		478
Reserves for environmental claims		179	179		203
Reinsurance recoverables for environmental claims		$ 43	$ 43		$ 64
Percentage of net asbestos and environmental reserves that were for incurred but not reported estimated losses		57.00%	57.00%		57.00%
Number of class action cases | case			1
Number of cases pending | claim		4	4
Loss Contingency, Opinions, Number | opinion				3
Minimum
Proceedings:
Loss contingencies, reasonably possible pretax loss exposure in excess of the amount accrued			$ 0
Maximum
Proceedings:
Loss contingencies, reasonably possible pretax loss exposure in excess of the amount accrued			875
Residual guarantee
Guarantees:
Potential leased automobiles residual value		$ 50	50
Maximum amount at risk pursuant to a guarantee		$ 4	$ 4
Guarantee obligations term, low end of range			1 year
Guarantee obligations term, high end of range			4 years
Against Allstate [Member]
Proceedings:
Loss Contingency, Opinions, Number | opinion				2
In Favor of Allstate [Member]
Proceedings:
Loss Contingency, Opinions, Number | opinion				1
Signed Releases Knowingly and Voluntarily [Member] | Judicial Ruling [Member]
Proceedings:
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs | Plaintiff	2
Did Not Sign Releases Knowingly and Voluntarily [Member] | Judicial Ruling [Member]
Proceedings:
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs | Plaintiff	8