Segment Information (Total Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 908,627	$ 885,296
Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	354,857	349,516
Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	44,797	43,404
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	231,996	220,612
Latin America [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	73,317	69,874
Asia [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	124,127	119,717
Europe, the Middle East and Africa [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	29,713	33,382
Corporate & Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 49,820	$ 48,791