Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues
Premiums									$ 36,361	$ 27,071	$ 26,157
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees									7,806	6,028	5,197
Net investment income									19,606	17,511	14,741
Other revenues									2,532	2,328	2,329
Net investment gains (losses)									(867)	(408)	(2,901)
Net derivative gains (losses)									4,824	(265)	(4,866)
Total revenues	16,746	20,457	17,148	15,911	12,690	12,338	14,139	13,098	70,262	52,265	40,657
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims and policyholder dividends									36,903	30,670	29,652
Interest credited to policyholder account balances									5,603	4,919	4,845
Capitalization of DAC									(6,858)	(3,299)	(2,976)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									5,391	2,843	1,289
Amortization of negative VOBA									(697)	(64)	0
Interest expense on debt									1,629	1,550	1,044
Other expenses									18,265	11,734	11,164
Total expenses	15,225	15,152	15,430	14,429	12,710	11,953	11,775	11,915	60,236	48,353	45,018
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)									3,075	1,165	(2,025)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income tax	1,127	3,571	1,199	1,054	66	317	1,536	828	6,951	2,747	(2,336)
U.S. Business [Member]
Revenues
Net investment income									14,431	14,416	13,302
Expenses
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									2,935	2,270	889
International [Member]
Revenues
Net investment income									3,606	1,655	942
Expenses
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									2,455	572	397
Japan [Member]
Revenues
Net investment income									1,660	261	0
Expenses
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									1,331	82	0
International Other Regions [Member]
Revenues
Net investment income									1,946	1,394	942
Expenses
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									1,124	490	397
Insurance Products [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Revenues
Net investment income									5,883	5,917	5,533
Expenses
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									812	1,056	753
Retirement Products [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Revenues
Net investment income									3,017	3,146	2,878
Expenses
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									1,658	759	(315)
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Revenues
Net investment income									5,326	5,144	4,711
Expenses
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									17	16	15
Auto Home [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Revenues
Net investment income									205	209	180
Expenses
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									448	439	436
Corporate & Other [Member]
Revenues
Net investment income									1,569	1,440	497
Expenses
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									1	1	3
Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues
Premiums									36,269	27,071	26,157
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees									7,528	5,817	5,055
Net investment income									19,676	16,880	14,600
Other revenues									1,911	1,675	1,473
Net investment gains (losses)									0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)									0	0	0
Total revenues									65,384	51,443	47,285
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims and policyholder dividends									36,227	29,972	29,104
Interest credited to policyholder account balances									6,057	4,697	4,849
Capitalization of DAC									(6,849)	(3,299)	(2,976)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									4,799	2,802	2,186
Amortization of negative VOBA									(619)	(57)	0
Interest expense on debt									1,305	1,139	1,044
Other expenses									16,754	10,690	10,152
Total expenses									57,674	45,944	44,359
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)									2,230	1,544	572
Operating earnings									5,480	3,955	2,354
Operating Segments [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Revenues
Premiums									23,508	22,936	23,254
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees									4,958	4,497	4,000
Net investment income									14,688	14,626	13,419
Other revenues									1,418	1,249	1,223
Net investment gains (losses)									0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)									0	0	0
Total revenues									44,572	43,308	41,896
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims and policyholder dividends									27,522	26,624	26,774
Interest credited to policyholder account balances									3,913	4,020	4,272
Capitalization of DAC									(2,956)	(2,375)	(2,389)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									2,366	2,229	1,786
Amortization of negative VOBA									0	0	0
Interest expense on debt									10	10	9
Other expenses									8,565	7,746	7,829
Total expenses									39,420	38,254	38,281
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)									1,749	1,710	1,173
Operating earnings									3,403	3,344	2,442
Operating Segments [Member] | International [Member]
Revenues
Premiums									12,751	4,124	2,884
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees									2,570	1,320	1,055
Net investment income									4,074	1,611	1,111
Other revenues									174	35	14
Net investment gains (losses)									0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)									0	0	0
Total revenues									19,569	7,090	5,064
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims and policyholder dividends									8,697	3,362	2,326
Interest credited to policyholder account balances									2,144	677	577
Capitalization of DAC									(3,893)	(924)	(587)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									2,432	572	397
Amortization of negative VOBA									(619)	(57)	0
Interest expense on debt									1	3	8
Other expenses									7,562	2,477	1,737
Total expenses									16,324	6,110	4,458
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)									1,033	200	155
Operating earnings									2,212	780	451
Operating Segments [Member] | Japan [Member]
Revenues
Premiums									6,325	499	0
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees									824	55	0
Net investment income									2,079	145	0
Other revenues									22	7	0
Net investment gains (losses)									0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)									0	0	0
Total revenues									9,250	706	0
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims and policyholder dividends									3,973	309	0
Interest credited to policyholder account balances									1,561	123	0
Capitalization of DAC									(2,250)	(149)	0
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									1,312	82	0
Amortization of negative VOBA									(555)	(49)	0
Interest expense on debt									0	0	0
Other expenses									3,398	244	0
Total expenses									7,439	560	0
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)									635	52	0
Operating earnings									1,176	94	0
Operating Segments [Member] | International Other Regions [Member]
Revenues
Premiums									6,426	3,625	2,884
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees									1,746	1,265	1,055
Net investment income									1,995	1,466	1,111
Other revenues									152	28	14
Net investment gains (losses)									0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)									0	0	0
Total revenues									10,319	6,384	5,064
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims and policyholder dividends									4,724	3,053	2,326
Interest credited to policyholder account balances									583	554	577
Capitalization of DAC									(1,643)	(775)	(587)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									1,120	490	397
Amortization of negative VOBA									(64)	(8)	0
Interest expense on debt									1	3	8
Other expenses									4,164	2,233	1,737
Total expenses									8,885	5,550	4,458
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)									398	148	155
Operating earnings									1,036	686	451
Operating Segments [Member] | Insurance Products [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Revenues
Premiums									16,949	17,200	17,168
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees									2,264	2,247	2,281
Net investment income									6,107	6,068	5,614
Other revenues									829	761	779
Net investment gains (losses)									0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)									0	0	0
Total revenues									26,149	26,276	25,842
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims and policyholder dividends									18,707	19,075	19,111
Interest credited to policyholder account balances									997	963	952
Capitalization of DAC									(864)	(841)	(873)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									897	966	725
Amortization of negative VOBA									0	0	0
Interest expense on debt									0	1	6
Other expenses									4,143	4,080	4,206
Total expenses									23,880	24,244	24,127
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)									794	711	573
Operating earnings									1,475	1,321	1,142
Operating Segments [Member] | Retirement Products [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Revenues
Premiums									1,141	875	920
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees									2,463	2,024	1,543
Net investment income									3,195	3,395	3,098
Other revenues									307	220	173
Net investment gains (losses)									0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)									0	0	0
Total revenues									7,106	6,514	5,734
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims and policyholder dividends									1,846	1,487	1,486
Interest credited to policyholder account balances									1,595	1,612	1,688
Capitalization of DAC									(1,612)	(1,067)	(1,067)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									1,004	808	610
Amortization of negative VOBA									0	0	0
Interest expense on debt									2	3	0
Other expenses									3,143	2,437	2,403
Total expenses									5,978	5,280	5,120
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)									395	431	216
Operating earnings									733	803	398
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate Benefit Funding [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Revenues
Premiums									2,418	1,938	2,264
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees									231	226	176
Net investment income									5,181	4,954	4,527
Other revenues									249	246	238
Net investment gains (losses)									0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)									0	0	0
Total revenues									8,079	7,364	7,205
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims and policyholder dividends									4,594	4,041	4,245
Interest credited to policyholder account balances									1,321	1,445	1,632
Capitalization of DAC									(27)	(19)	(14)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									17	16	15
Amortization of negative VOBA									0	0	0
Interest expense on debt									8	6	3
Other expenses									487	460	456
Total expenses									6,400	5,949	6,337
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)									588	495	288
Operating earnings									1,091	920	580
Operating Segments [Member] | Auto Home [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Revenues
Premiums									3,000	2,923	2,902
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees									0	0	0
Net investment income									205	209	180
Other revenues									33	22	33
Net investment gains (losses)									0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)									0	0	0
Total revenues									3,238	3,154	3,115
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims and policyholder dividends									2,375	2,021	1,932
Interest credited to policyholder account balances									0	0	0
Capitalization of DAC									(453)	(448)	(435)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									448	439	436
Amortization of negative VOBA									0	0	0
Interest expense on debt									0	0	0
Other expenses									792	769	764
Total expenses									3,162	2,781	2,697
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)									(28)	73	96
Operating earnings									104	300	322
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate & Other [Member]
Revenues
Premiums									10	11	19
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees									0	0	0
Net investment income									914	643	70
Other revenues									319	391	236
Net investment gains (losses)									0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)									0	0	0
Total revenues									1,243	1,045	325
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims and policyholder dividends									8	(14)	4
Interest credited to policyholder account balances									0	0	0
Capitalization of DAC									0	0	0
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									1	1	3
Amortization of negative VOBA									0	0	0
Interest expense on debt									1,294	1,126	1,027
Other expenses									627	467	586
Total expenses									1,930	1,580	1,620
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)									(552)	(366)	(756)
Operating earnings									(135)	(169)	(539)
Significant Reconciling Items [Member]
Revenues
Premiums									92	0	0
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees									278	211	142
Net investment income									(70)	631	141
Other revenues									621	653	856
Net investment gains (losses)									(867)	(408)	(2,901)
Net derivative gains (losses)									4,824	(265)	(4,866)
Total revenues									4,878	822	(6,628)
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims and policyholder dividends									676	698	548
Interest credited to policyholder account balances									(454)	222	(4)
Capitalization of DAC									(9)	0	0
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									592	41	(897)
Amortization of negative VOBA									(78)	(7)	0
Interest expense on debt									324	411	0
Other expenses									1,511	1,044	1,012
Total expenses									2,562	2,409	659
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)									$ 845	$ (379)	$ (2,597)