Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 2,484		$ 2,733
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	27,904		30,024
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	72		249
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	2,973		2,510
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	260		86
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	220		225
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(24,954)		(34,698)
Purchases of equity securities	(209)		(389)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(2,483)		(1,764)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(578)		(426)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(485)		(481)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	395		330
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(1,045)		(2,428)
Sales of businesses	0	[1]	373	[1]
Sale of bank deposits	0		(6,395)
Net change in policy loans	(2)		(52)
Net change in short-term investments	47		3,303
Net change in other invested assets	115		(226)
Other, net	(66)		40
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	2,164		(9,719)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	19,004		21,370
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(22,628)		(20,034)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	2,058		528
Net change in bank deposits	0		8
Net change in short-term debt	(75)		0
Long-term debt repaid	(1,460)		(240)
Dividends on preferred stock	(30)		(30)
Dividends on common stock	(311)		(203)
Other, net	(217)		(75)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(3,659)		1,324
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	(1)		(93)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	988		(5,755)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	7,585		15,738
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	8,573		9,983
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Net cash paid for interest	245		264
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax	97		217
Non-cash transactions:
Real estate and real estate joint ventures acquired in satisfaction of debt	0		55
Reduction of redeemable noncontrolling interests	774		0
Reduction of long-term debt	413		0
Reduction of real estate and real estate joint ventures	$ 1,132		$ 0

[1] See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2013 Annual Report.