Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 6,793	$ 3,928
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	54,958	38,035
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	1,027	690
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	5,152	2,715
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	268	87
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	676	251
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(66,861)	(47,014)
Purchases of equity securities	(489)	(364)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(6,686)	(2,878)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(417)	(305)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(576)	(452)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	1,470	986
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(2,632)	(1,077)
Sale of interest in joint venture	269	0
Net change in policy loans	(77)	(119)
Net change in short-term investments	(2,896)	(1,334)
Net change in other invested assets	(6)	754
Other, net	(78)	(95)
Net cash used in investing activities	(16,898)	(10,120)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	44,671	34,213
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(40,842)	(32,390)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	2,807	5,576
Net change in bank deposits	(341)	(497)
Net change in short-term debt	(204)	(33)
Long-term debt issued	1,221	678
Long-term debt repaid	(715)	(511)
Cash received in connection with collateral financing arrangements	100	0
Debt issuance costs	(1)	(1)
Common stock issued, net of issuance costs	2,950	0
Stock options exercised	73	26
Redemption of convertible preferred stock	(2,805)	0
Preferred stock redemption premium	(146)	0
Dividends on preferred stock	(61)	(61)
Other, net	(121)	(139)
Net cash provided by financing activities	6,586	6,861
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	146	(79)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(3,373)	590
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	13,046	10,112
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	9,673	10,702
Cash and cash equivalents, subsidiaries held-for-sale, beginning of period	89	88
Cash and cash equivalents, subsidiaries held-for-sale, end of period	45	38
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, beginning of period	12,957	10,024
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, end of period	9,628	10,664
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Net cash paid during the period for Interest	834	744
Net cash paid (received) during the period for Income tax	586	(11)
Non-cash transactions during the period:
Real estate and real estate joint ventures acquired in satisfaction of debt	$ 74	$ 10