Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information (Income Statement Items) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	$ 48,052	$ 49,013	$ 47,125
Net Investment Income	19,281	21,153	22,232
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	44,324	46,045	46,286
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	3,936	4,132	3,550
Other Operating Expenses (1)	14,221	14,335	14,311
Retail
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	12,541	12,731	11,783
Net Investment Income	7,359	7,430	7,325
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	11,302	11,329	11,460
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	1,691	1,610	850
Other Operating Expenses (1)	5,101	5,006	5,023
Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	17,098	16,695	15,938
Net Investment Income	1,727	1,694	1,661
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	15,320	15,053	14,381
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	164	149	140
Other Operating Expenses (1)	2,553	2,429	2,240
Corporate Benefit Funding
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	3,278	2,996	3,106
Net Investment Income	5,605	5,698	5,711
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	6,617	6,357	6,604
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	21	19	23
Other Operating Expenses (1)	496	488	482
Latin America
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	4,011	4,281	3,866
Net Investment Income	1,055	1,268	1,224
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	3,070	3,482	2,826
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	303	334	311
Other Operating Expenses (1)	1,227	1,346	1,264
Asia
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	8,491	9,270	9,525
Net Investment Income	2,859	3,279	4,363
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	6,817	7,748	9,200
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	1,265	1,394	1,527
Other Operating Expenses (1)	1,619	1,724	1,830
EMEA
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	2,455	2,832	2,698
Net Investment Income	347	1,238	1,091
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	1,109	1,978	1,743
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	492	626	699
Other Operating Expenses (1)	998	1,176	1,037
Corporate & Other
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	178	208	209
Net Investment Income	329	546	857
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	89	98	72
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	0	0	0
Other Operating Expenses (1)	$ 2,227	$ 2,166	$ 2,435