Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 10,437	$ 10,233
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	78,227	66,544
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	323	904
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	6,878	6,721
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	561	689
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	514	882
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(84,014)	(76,010)
Purchases of equity securities	(118)	(705)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(10,624)	(9,988)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(912)	(1,078)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(1,047)	(1,064)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	3,130	4,890
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(3,745)	(7,404)
Cash disposed due to distribution of Brighthouse	0	663
Purchases of businesses	0	211
Net change in policy loans	(62)	(16)
Net change in short-term investments	(301)	(209)
Net change in other invested assets	174	(184)
Other, net	24	(256)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(10,992)	(17,158)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	72,037	67,565
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(67,869)	(62,233)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	719	2,316
Long-term debt issued	24	3,657
Long-term debt repaid	(1,311)	(60)
Collateral financing arrangements repaid	(48)	(2,852)
Distribution of Brighthouse	0	(2,793)
Financing element on certain derivative instruments and other derivative related transactions, net	(15)	(109)
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(2,792)	(2,305)
Preferred stock issued, net of issuance costs	1,274	0
Dividends on preferred stock	(84)	(58)
Dividends on common stock	(1,263)	(1,295)
Other, net	(141)	(144)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	531	1,689
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	(187)	382
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(211)	(4,854)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	12,701	17,877
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	12,490	13,023
Cash and cash equivalents, of disposed subsidiary, beginning of period	0	5,226
Cash and cash equivalents, of disposed subsidiary, end of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, beginning of period	12,701	12,651
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, end of period	12,490	13,023
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Net cash paid for Interest	809	806
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax	695	633
Non-cash transactions:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale 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
Assets disposed, date of Separation	0	225,502
Liabilities disposed, date of Separation	0	(210,999)
Net Assets disposed, date of Separation	0	14,503
Cash disposed, date of Separation	0	(3,456)
Net non-cash disposed, date of Separation	$ 0	$ 11,047