Investments (Net Investment Income - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Fair Value Option And Trading Securities	$ 16,444		$ 16,745
FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Changes in estimated fair value included in net investment income	$ (373)	$ 340

Amount of unrealized holding gain (loss) recognized in the income statement for investments in debt and equity securities and other forms of securities that provide ownership interests classified as trading.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82895926&loc=d3e24584-111560

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27357-111563

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Balance Type:	credit
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