Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs - Progression of deferred policy acquisition costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Movement Analysis of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Roll Forward]
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, beginning balance		$ 1,573	$ 1,447	$ 1,037	$ 1,682
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, additions		178	250	386	502
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, periodic amortization		(112)	(200)	(385)	(395)
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, change included in realized gains		(1)	1	9	3
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, foreign currency translation		(2)	(1)	(2)	0
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, change in unrealized		(818)	(294)	(227)	(589)
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, ending balance		818	1,203	818	1,203
P&C
Movement Analysis of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs [Roll Forward]
Deferred policy acquisition costs, beginning balance		310	312	322	299
Deferred policy acquisition costs, additions		148	194	306	381
Deferred policy acquisition costs, periodic amortization		(160)	(175)	(330)	(350)
Deferred policy acquisition costs, foreign currency translation		(2)	(1)	(2)	0
Deferred policy acquisition costs, ending balance		296	330	296	330
Annuity and Other
Movement Analysis of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs [Roll Forward]
Deferred policy acquisition costs, beginning balance		1,264	1,336	1,303	1,285
Deferred policy acquisition costs, additions		30	56	79	120
Deferred policy acquisition costs, periodic amortization		50	(19)	(48)	(34)
Deferred policy acquisition costs, change included in realized gains		(2)	0	8	2
Deferred policy acquisition costs, ending balance		1,342	1,373	1,342	1,373
Movement in Deferred Sales Inducements [Roll Forward]
Deferred sales inducements, beginning balance		73	84	75	86
Deferred sales inducements, additions		0	0	1	1
Deferred sales inducements, periodic amortization		(1)	(4)	(4)	(7)
Deferred sales inducements, change included in realized gains		1	1	1	1
Deferred sales inducements, ending balance		73	81	73	81
Movement in Present Value of Future Insurance Profits [Roll Forward]
Present value of future profits, beginning balance		34	40	36	42
Present value of future profits, periodic amortization		(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
Present value of future profits, ending balance		33	38	33	38
Movement in Unrealized Gains (Losses) Related to Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Roll Forward]
Unrealized investment gains (losses), beginning balance	[1]	(108)	(325)	(699)	(30)
Unrealized investment gains (losses), change in unrealized	[1]	(818)	(294)	(227)	(589)
Unrealized investment gains (losses), ending balance	[1]	(926)	(619)	(926)	(619)
Movement Analysis of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Roll Forward]
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, beginning balance		1,263	1,135	715	1,383
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, additions		30	56	80	121
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, periodic amortization		48	(25)	(55)	(45)
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, change included in realized gains		(1)	1	9	3
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, change in unrealized		(818)	(294)	(227)	(589)
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, ending balance		522	873	522	873
Excluding Unrealized Gains | Annuity and Other
Movement Analysis of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Roll Forward]
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, beginning balance		1,371	1,460	1,414	1,413
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, change in unrealized		0	0	0	0
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits, ending balance		$ 1,448	$ 1,492	$ 1,448	$ 1,492

[1] Adjustments to DPAC related to net unrealized gains/losses on securities and cash flow hedges.