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Amount before tax of income (loss) from a discontinued operation. Includes, but is not limited to, the income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, gain (loss) for reversal of write-down (write-down) to fair value, less cost to sell, and adjustments to a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Amount of tax expense (benefit) related to a discontinued operation. Includes, but is not limited to, tax expense (benefit) related to income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, tax expense (benefit) related to gain (loss) on disposal, tax expense (benefit) related to gain (loss) for reversal of write-down (write-down) to fair value, less cost to sell, and tax expense (benefit) related to adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Amount after tax of income (loss) from a discontinued operation including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Includes, but is not limited to, the income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, gain (loss) for reversal of write-down (write-down) to fair value, less cost to sell, and adjustments to a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Dispositions - Separation of Brighthouse - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (968)	$ 58	$ (76)	$ 0	$ (986)	$ (2,734)
Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Income										150	74
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue										3,845	2,880
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Expenses										853	1,333
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expenses										3,706	7,221
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax										139	(4,341)
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation										(46)	(1,607)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income tax										185	(2,734)
Discontinued Operation, Separation cost, net										(216)	0
Tax charges associated with the Separation										(955)	0
Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income tax										(1,171)	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax										(986)	(2,734)
Brighthouse Financial, Inc \| Premiums
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue										820	1,951
Brighthouse Financial, Inc \| Universal life and investment-type product policy fees
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue										2,201	3,724
Brighthouse Financial, Inc \| Net investment income
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue										1,783	3,157
Brighthouse Financial, Inc \| Total net investment gains (losses)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue										(48)	(140)
Brighthouse Financial, Inc \| Net derivative gains (losses)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue										(1,061)	(5,886)
Brighthouse Financial, Inc \| Policyholder benefits and claims
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expenses										2,217	4,487
Brighthouse Financial, Inc \| Interest credited to policyholder account balances
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expenses										620	1,107
Brighthouse Financial, Inc \| Policyholder dividend expense
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expenses										16	34
Brighthouse Financial, Inc \| Goodwill impairment
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expenses										$ 0	$ 260