Dispositions - Separation of Brighthouse - Ongoing Reinsurance Transactions (Effects of Reinsurance on Earnings) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Premiums:
Reinsurance assumed	$ 2,021	$ 1,773	$ 1,363
Reinsurance ceded	(2,380)	(2,376)	(2,136)
Net premiums	43,840	38,992	37,202
Fees and Commissions [Abstract] (Deprecated 2018-01-31)
Assumed Insurance Commissions And Fees	86	83	96
Ceded Insurance Commissions And Fees	(592)	(551)	(497)
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	5,502	5,510	5,483
Policyholder benefits and claims:
Reinsurance assumed	1,583	1,388	1,085
Reinsurance ceded	(2,383)	(2,429)	(1,913)
Net policyholder benefits and claims	42,656	38,313	36,358
Interest Credited To Policyholder Account Balances [Abstract]
Interest Credited to Policyholders Account Balances	4,013	5,607	5,176
Other expenses:
Reinsurance assumed	321	246	169
Reinsurance ceded	311	235	378
Other expenses	13,714	13,621	13,749
Affiliated Entity [Member]
Premiums:
Reinsurance assumed	401	183
Reinsurance ceded	(13)	(4)
Net premiums	388	179
Fees and Commissions [Abstract] (Deprecated 2018-01-31)
Assumed Insurance Commissions And Fees	7	(4)
Ceded Insurance Commissions And Fees	(96)	(44)
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	(89)	(48)
Policyholder benefits and claims:
Reinsurance assumed	328	150
Reinsurance ceded	(36)	(22)
Net policyholder benefits and claims	292	128
Interest Credited To Policyholder Account Balances [Abstract]
Assumed Interest Credited To Policyholders Account Balances	14	6
Ceded Interest Credited To Policyholders Account Balances	(71)	(30)
Interest Credited to Policyholders Account Balances	(57)	(24)
Other expenses:
Reinsurance assumed	105	39
Reinsurance ceded	29	(7)
Other expenses	$ 76	46
Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Premiums:
Reinsurance assumed		248	462
Reinsurance ceded		(7)	(9)
Net premiums		241	453
Fees and Commissions [Abstract] (Deprecated 2018-01-31)
Assumed Insurance Commissions And Fees		(6)	(2)
Ceded Insurance Commissions And Fees		(55)	(102)
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees		(61)	(104)
Policyholder benefits and claims:
Reinsurance assumed		196	385
Reinsurance ceded		(16)	(23)
Net policyholder benefits and claims		180	362
Interest Credited To Policyholder Account Balances [Abstract]
Assumed Interest Credited To Policyholders Account Balances		10	16
Ceded Interest Credited To Policyholders Account Balances		(42)	(75)
Interest Credited to Policyholders Account Balances		(32)	(59)
Other expenses:
Reinsurance assumed		10	88
Reinsurance ceded		28	29
Other expenses		$ (18)	$ 59