Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 9,040	$ 5,193
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	81,918	55,618
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	1,342	1,002
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	8,784	4,474
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	856	135
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	852	311
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(95,660)	(69,997)
Purchases of equity securities	(869)	(638)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(12,248)	(5,888)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(608)	(474)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(849)	(745)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	2,841	1,717
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(3,102)	(1,949)
Sale of interest in joint venture	265	0
Net change in policy loans	(84)	(169)
Net change in short-term investments	(6,508)	(3,152)
Net change in other invested assets	(175)	501
Other, net	(104)	(115)
Net cash used in investing activities	(23,349)	(19,369)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	69,911	53,709
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(67,001)	(50,126)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	7,661	7,695
Net change in bank deposits	296	(959)
Net change in short-term debt	145	1,145
Long-term debt issued	1,346	4,590
Long-term debt repaid	(1,192)	(689)
Cash received in connection with collateral financing arrangements	100	0
Debt issuance costs	(1)	(14)
Common stock issued, net of issuance costs	2,950	3,529
Stock options exercised	77	32
Redemption of convertible preferred stock	(2,805)	0
Preferred stock redemption premium	(146)	0
Dividends on preferred stock	(91)	(91)
Other, net	(68)	(192)
Net cash provided by financing activities	11,182	18,629
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	133	(8)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(2,994)	4,445
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	13,046	10,112
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	10,052	14,557
Cash and cash equivalents, subsidiaries held-for-sale, beginning of period	89	88
Cash and cash equivalents, subsidiaries held-for-sale, end of period	51	78
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, beginning of period	12,957	10,024
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, end of period	10,001	14,479
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Net cash paid during the period for Interest	1,184	997
Net cash paid during the period for Income tax	668	109
Non-cash transactions during the period:
Real estate and real estate joint ventures acquired in satisfaction of debt	$ 106	$ 92