Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 6,904	$ 5,499
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	54,497	47,120
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	280	452
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	4,341	4,354
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	422	490
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	337	689
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(58,061)	(49,995)
Purchases of equity securities	(64)	(616)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(6,380)	(7,126)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(495)	(602)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(568)	(682)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	2,376	3,945
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(2,638)	(5,698)
Net change in policy loans	(42)	6
Net change in short-term investments	1,055	914
Net change in other invested assets	164	(206)
Other, net	12	(194)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(4,764)	(7,149)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	46,858	44,854
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(44,976)	(42,387)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	1,633	1,205
Long-term debt issued	14	2,989
Long-term debt repaid	(200)	(9)
Collateral financing arrangements repaid	(36)	(2,836)
Financing element on certain derivative instruments and other derivative related transactions, net	12	(94)
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(2,156)	(1,810)
Preferred stock issued, net of issuance costs	1,274	0
Dividends on preferred stock	(52)	(52)
Dividends on common stock	(844)	(868)
Other, net	85	(186)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,612	806
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	(141)	286
Change in cash and cash equivalents	3,611	(558)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	12,701	17,877
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	16,312	17,319
Cash and cash equivalents, of disposed subsidiary, beginning of period	0	5,226
Cash and cash equivalents, of disposed subsidiary, end of period	0	4,443
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, beginning of period	12,701	12,651
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, end of period	16,312	12,876
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Net cash paid for Interest	592	574
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax	577	505
Fixed maturity securities received in connection with pension risk transfer transaction	3,016	0
Reduction of long-term debt	944	0
Reduction of fair value option securities	$ 1,030	$ 0