Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information (Income Statement Items) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	$ 47,125	$ 46,531	$ 44,167
Net investment income	22,232	21,984	19,585
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	46,286	45,716	41,074
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	3,550	4,199	4,898
Other Operating Expenses	14,311	14,925	15,085
Retail [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	11,783	11,411	11,077
Net investment income	7,427	7,275	7,156
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	11,460	11,247	10,447
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	850	1,603	2,365
Other Operating Expenses	5,006	4,941	4,902
Group, Voluntary and Worksite Benefits [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	15,938	15,456	14,579
Net investment income	1,684	1,628	1,631
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	14,381	13,858	13,193
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	140	133	186
Other Operating Expenses	2,241	2,215	2,022
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	3,106	3,462	3,080
Net investment income	5,805	5,765	5,639
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	6,604	7,105	6,664
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	23	22	17
Other Operating Expenses	505	457	497
Latin America [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	3,820	3,438	3,371
Net investment income	1,326	1,354	1,105
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	2,793	3,014	2,899
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	310	228	211
Other Operating Expenses	1,182	1,047	1,056
Corporate & Other [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	255	211	209
Net investment income	491	1,193	1,565
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	105	158	126
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	1	2	1
Other Operating Expenses	2,517	3,272	3,627
Asia [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	9,525	9,835	9,059
Net investment income	4,335	3,421	1,954
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	9,200	8,246	6,360
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	1,527	1,567	1,505
Other Operating Expenses	1,825	1,933	1,862
Europe, the Middle East and Africa [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	2,698	2,718	2,792
Net investment income	1,164	1,348	535
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	1,743	2,088	1,385
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	699	644	613
Other Operating Expenses	$ 1,035	$ 1,060	$ 1,119