Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	$ 44,167	$ 33,099	$ 31,354
Net investment income	19,606	17,511	14,741
Policyholder Benefits and Interest Credited	41,060	34,104	32,848
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	5,391	2,843	1,289
Other Operating Expenses	13,785	11,406	10,881
Premiums Written (Excluding Life)	14,822	9,998	9,424
U.S. Business [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	28,736	27,644	27,396
Net investment income	14,431	14,416	13,302
Policyholder Benefits and Interest Credited	30,304	29,619	29,941
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	2,935	2,270	889
Other Operating Expenses	7,005	6,851	7,122
Premiums Written (Excluding Life)	8,862	8,869	8,834
International [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	15,421	5,444	3,939
Net investment income	3,606	1,655	942
Policyholder Benefits and Interest Credited	10,748	4,499	2,903
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	2,455	572	397
Other Operating Expenses	3,167	1,510	1,195
Premiums Written (Excluding Life)	5,960	1,129	590
Japan [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	7,149	554	0
Net investment income	1,660	261	0
Policyholder Benefits and Interest Credited	5,149	543	0
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	1,331	82	0
Other Operating Expenses	514	39	0
Premiums Written (Excluding Life)	4,203	344	0
International Other Regions [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	8,272	4,890	3,939
Net investment income	1,946	1,394	942
Policyholder Benefits and Interest Credited	5,599	3,956	2,903
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	1,124	490	397
Other Operating Expenses	2,653	1,471	1,195
Premiums Written (Excluding Life)	1,757	785	590
Insurance Products [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	19,227	19,448	19,422
Net investment income	5,883	5,917	5,533
Policyholder Benefits and Interest Credited	18,318	18,568	18,431
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	812	1,056	753
Other Operating Expenses	4,665	4,714	4,981
Premiums Written (Excluding Life)	5,818	5,899	5,936
Retirement Products [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	3,860	3,109	2,632
Net investment income	3,017	3,146	2,878
Policyholder Benefits and Interest Credited	3,642	3,491	3,638
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	1,658	759	(315)
Other Operating Expenses	1,533	1,372	1,367
Premiums Written (Excluding Life)	0	0	0
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	2,649	2,164	2,440
Net investment income	5,326	5,144	4,711
Policyholder Benefits and Interest Credited	5,969	5,539	5,942
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	17	16	15
Other Operating Expenses	468	444	443
Premiums Written (Excluding Life)	0	0	0
Auto Home [Member] | U.S. Business [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	3,000	2,923	2,902
Net investment income	205	209	180
Policyholder Benefits and Interest Credited	2,375	2,021	1,930
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	448	439	436
Other Operating Expenses	339	321	331
Premiums Written (Excluding Life)	3,044	2,970	2,898
Corporate & Other [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premium Revenue and Policy Charges	10	11	19
Net investment income	1,569	1,440	497
Policyholder Benefits and Interest Credited	8	(14)	4
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	1	1	3
Other Operating Expenses	3,613	3,045	2,564
Premiums Written (Excluding Life)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0