Investments (Net Investment Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Less: Investment expenses	$ 1,198	$ 1,090	$ 1,019
Subtotal	22,232	21,984	19,585
Securities Investment [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	21,123	21,248	20,716
Subtotal	19,925	20,158	19,697
Debt Securities [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	15,071	15,218	15,037
Equity Securities [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	127	133	141
Actively traded securities and FVO general account securities [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	65	88	31
Changes in estimated fair value included in net investment income	18	51	(3)
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	3,020	3,191	3,164
Policy Loans [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	620	626	641
Real Estate Investment [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	909	834	688
Partnership Interest [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	955	845	681
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	181	163	167
International Joint Venture [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	10	19	(12)
Other Investments [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	165	131	178
Consolidated Securitization Entities And Fair Value Option Contractholder-Directed Unit-Linked [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	2,307	1,826	(112)
FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	2,172	1,473	(453)
Changes in estimated fair value included in net investment income	1,579	1,170	(647)
Securitized Reverse Residential Mortgage Loan [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	0	177	0
Commercial Loan [Member] | Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	132	172	332
Available-for-sale Securities [Member] | Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	$ 3	$ 4	$ 9