Business Segment Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 785,230	$ 730,906
Insurance Products [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	148,629	141,366
Retirement Products [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	185,010	177,045
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	186,741	172,929
Auto Home [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	5,965	5,541
Banking, Corporate & Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	86,041	69,030
U.S. Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	526,345	496,881
International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	172,844	164,995
Japan [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	104,493	87,416
International Other Regions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 68,351	$ 77,579