Investments (Net Investment Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Less: Investment expenses	$ 298	$ 302	$ 873	$ 889
Subtotal	5,410	5,026	15,704	16,385
Securities Investment [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	5,321	5,163	15,793	15,683
Subtotal	5,023	4,861	14,920	14,794
Debt Securities [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	3,695	3,784	11,106	11,319
Equity Securities [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	31	28	98	88
Actively traded securities and FVO general account securities [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	14	14	95	24
Changes in estimated fair value included in net investment income	(18)	2	7	(14)
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	775	725	2,192	2,179
Policy Loans [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	158	158	473	465
Real Estate Investment [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	245	227	724	663
Partnership Interest [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	299	144	834	665
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	42	42	130	136
International Joint Venture [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	2	16	5	7
Other Investments [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	60	25	136	137
Consolidated Securitization Entities And Fair Value Option Contractholder-Directed Unit-Linked [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	387	165	784	1,591
FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	379	132	739	1,485
Changes in estimated fair value included in net investment income	248	(9)	329	1,069
Commercial Loan [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	8	33	44	104
Securities [Member] | Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Subtotal	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1	$ 2