Segment Information (Total Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 911,120	$ 885,296
Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	360,783	349,516
Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	45,401	43,404
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	229,128	220,612
Latin America [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	74,437	69,874
Asia [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	124,475	119,717
Europe, the Middle East and Africa [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	31,178	33,382
Corporate & Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 45,718	$ 48,791