Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information (Income Statement Items) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	$ 49,013	$ 47,125	$ 46,531
Net Investment Income (1)	21,153	22,232	21,984
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	46,045	46,286	45,716
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	4,132	3,550	4,199
Other Operating Expenses (2)	14,335	14,311	14,925
Retail
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	12,731	11,783	11,411
Net Investment Income (1)	7,496	7,427	7,275
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	11,329	11,460	11,247
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	1,610	850	1,603
Other Operating Expenses (2)	4,990	5,006	4,941
Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	16,695	15,938	15,456
Net Investment Income (1)	1,677	1,684	1,628
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	15,053	14,381	13,858
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	149	140	133
Other Operating Expenses (2)	2,428	2,241	2,215
Corporate Benefit Funding
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	2,996	3,106	3,462
Net Investment Income (1)	5,813	5,826	5,789
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	6,357	6,604	7,105
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	19	23	22
Other Operating Expenses (2)	509	505	457
Latin America
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	4,209	3,820	3,438
Net Investment Income (1)	1,385	1,326	1,354
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	3,439	2,793	3,014
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	321	310	228
Other Operating Expenses (2)	1,273	1,182	1,047
Asia
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	9,270	9,525	9,835
Net Investment Income (1)	3,249	4,335	3,421
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	7,748	9,200	8,246
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	1,394	1,527	1,567
Other Operating Expenses (2)	1,720	1,825	1,933
EMEA
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	2,832	2,698	2,718
Net Investment Income (1)	1,318	1,164	1,348
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	1,978	1,743	2,088
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	626	699	644
Other Operating Expenses (2)	1,140	1,035	1,060
Corporate & Other
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	280	255	211
Net Investment Income (1)	215	470	1,169
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	141	105	158
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	13	1	2
Other Operating Expenses (2)	$ 2,275	$ 2,517	$ 3,272