Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	$ 18,592	$ 16,004	$ 16,219	$ 16,510
VOBA	9,379	11,088	2,864	3,491
DAC and VOBA	27,971	27,092	19,083	20,001
U.S. Business [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	13,182	13,217
VOBA	1,214	1,928
DAC and VOBA	14,396	15,145	16,382
International [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	5,409	2,785
VOBA	8,164	9,159
DAC and VOBA	13,573	11,944	2,697
Japan [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	1,989	135
VOBA	6,509	6,853
DAC and VOBA	8,498	6,988	0
International Other Regions [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	3,420	2,650
VOBA	1,655	2,306
DAC and VOBA	5,075	4,956	2,697
Insurance Products [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	8,228	8,247
VOBA	381	833
DAC and VOBA	8,609	9,080	10,103
Retirement Products [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	4,659	4,706
VOBA	830	1,094
DAC and VOBA	5,489	5,800	6,024
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	101	74
VOBA	3	1
DAC and VOBA	104	75	74
Auto Home [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	194	190
VOBA	0	0
DAC and VOBA	194	190	181
Corporate & Other [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	1	2
VOBA	1	1
DAC and VOBA	$ 2	$ 3	$ 4