Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 10,233	$ 9,131
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	66,544	101,614
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	904	1,019
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	6,721	10,518
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	689	323
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	882	1,025
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(76,010)	(108,418)
Purchases of equity securities	(705)	(802)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(9,988)	(14,686)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(1,078)	(958)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(1,064)	(806)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	4,890	3,258
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(7,404)	(4,317)
Cash disposed due to distribution of Brighthouse	(663)	0
Sales of businesses, net of cash and cash equivalents disposed of $0 and $135, respectively	0	156
Purchases of businesses	(211)	0
Purchases of investments in operating joint ventures	0	(39)
Net change in policy loans	(16)	201
Net change in short-term investments	(209)	(2,232)
Net change in other invested assets	(184)	(58)
Other, net	(256)	(384)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(17,158)	(14,586)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	67,565	65,225
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(62,233)	(61,145)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	2,316	7,227
Long-term debt issued	3,657	0
Long-term debt repaid	(60)	(1,273)
Collateral financing arrangements repaid	(2,852)	(55)
Distribution of Brighthouse	(2,793)	0
Financing element on certain derivative instruments and other derivative related transactions, net	(109)	(336)
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(2,305)	(70)
Dividends on preferred stock	(58)	(58)
Dividends on common stock	(1,295)	(1,295)
Other, net	(144)	60
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,689	8,280
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	382	306
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(4,854)	3,131
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	17,877	12,752
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	13,023	15,883
Cash and cash equivalents, of disposed subsidiary, beginning of period	5,226	1,570
Cash and cash equivalents, of disposed subsidiary, end of period	0	2,825
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, beginning of period	12,651	11,182
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, end of period	13,023	13,058
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Net cash paid for Interest	806	875
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax	633	464
Non-cash transactions:
Assets disposed, date of Separation	225,502	0
Liabilities disposed, date of Separation	(210,999)	0
Net Assets disposed, date of Separation	14,503	0
Cash disposed, date of Separation	(3,456)	0
Net non-cash disposed, date of Separation	11,047	0
Fixed maturity securities received in connection with pension risk transfer transactions	0	985
Reduction of fixed maturity securities in connection with a reinsurance transaction	0	224
Deconsolidation of operating joint venture:
Reduction of fixed maturity securities	0	917
Reduction of noncontrolling interests	$ 0	$ 373