Fair Value (Details 10) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Mortgage loans [Abstract]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Commercial and Consumer, Net	$ 57,884	$ 56,915
Held-for-sale	64	10,716
Policy loans	11,949	11,892
Other Limited Partnership Interests	6,730	6,378
Other Investments	23,477	23,581
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	226,882	217,700
Bank deposits	6,515	10,507
Collateral financing arrangements	4,196	4,647
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,192	3,192
Other Liabilities	24,007	30,914
Separate account liabilities	237,373	203,023
Mortgage Loan Commitments [Member]
Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to fund bank credit facilities, bridge loans and private corporate bond investments	2,900	4,100
Commitments to Extend Credit [Member]
Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to fund bank credit facilities, bridge loans and private corporate bond investments	1,500	1,400
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Mortgage loans [Abstract]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Commercial and Consumer, Net	58,346	56,422
Held-for-sale	1,222	4,462
Mortgage loans, net	59,568	60,884
Policy loans	14,500	14,213
Real estate joint ventures	168	183
Other Limited Partnership Interests	1,434	1,656
Other Investments	1,467	1,434
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	3,499	5,232
Other assets	284	308
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	160,480	153,304
Bank deposits	6,515	10,507
Long-term Debt	19,327	22,514
Collateral financing arrangements	3,807	4,136
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,870	3,491
Other Liabilities	5,167	4,087
Separate account liabilities	62,122	49,610
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Mortgage Loan Commitments [Member]
Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to fund bank credit facilities, bridge loans and private corporate bond investments	5	3
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Commitments to Extend Credit [Member]
Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to fund bank credit facilities, bridge loans and private corporate bond investments	43	51
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Mortgage loans [Abstract]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Commercial and Consumer, Net	0
Held-for-sale	0
Mortgage loans, net	0
Policy loans	0
Real estate joint ventures	0
Other Limited Partnership Interests	0
Other Investments	321
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	0
Other assets	0
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	0
Bank deposits	0
Long-term Debt	0
Collateral financing arrangements	0
Junior subordinated debt securities	0
Other Liabilities	0
Separate account liabilities	0
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Mortgage Loan Commitments [Member]
Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to fund bank credit facilities, bridge loans and private corporate bond investments	0
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Commitments to Extend Credit [Member]
Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to fund bank credit facilities, bridge loans and private corporate bond investments	0
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Mortgage loans [Abstract]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Commercial and Consumer, Net	0
Held-for-sale	0
Mortgage loans, net	0
Policy loans	1,698
Real estate joint ventures	0
Other Limited Partnership Interests	0
Other Investments	64
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	526
Other assets	214
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	0
Bank deposits	1,982
Long-term Debt	19,327
Collateral financing arrangements	0
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,870
Other Liabilities	3,789
Separate account liabilities	62,122
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Mortgage Loan Commitments [Member]
Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to fund bank credit facilities, bridge loans and private corporate bond investments	0
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Commitments to Extend Credit [Member]
Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to fund bank credit facilities, bridge loans and private corporate bond investments	43
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Mortgage loans [Abstract]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Commercial and Consumer, Net	58,346
Held-for-sale	1,222
Mortgage loans, net	59,568
Policy loans	12,802
Real estate joint ventures	168
Other Limited Partnership Interests	1,434
Other Investments	1,082
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	2,973
Other assets	70
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	160,480
Bank deposits	4,533
Long-term Debt	0
Collateral financing arrangements	3,807
Junior subordinated debt securities	0
Other Liabilities	1,378
Separate account liabilities	0
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Mortgage Loan Commitments [Member]
Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to fund bank credit facilities, bridge loans and private corporate bond investments	5
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Commitments to Extend Credit [Member]
Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to fund bank credit facilities, bridge loans and private corporate bond investments	0
Carrying Value [Member]
Mortgage loans [Abstract]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Commercial and Consumer, Net	55,005	53,777
Held-for-sale	1,222	4,462
Mortgage loans, net	56,227	58,239
Policy loans	11,949	11,892
Real estate joint ventures	115	130
Other Limited Partnership Interests	1,203	1,318
Other Investments	1,467	1,434
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	3,064	4,639
Other assets	252	310
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	151,826	146,890
Bank deposits	6,515	10,507
Long-term Debt	16,854	20,587
Collateral financing arrangements	4,196	4,647
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,192	3,192
Other Liabilities	5,164	4,087
Separate account liabilities	62,122	49,610
Carrying Value [Member] | Mortgage Loan Commitments [Member]
Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to fund bank credit facilities, bridge loans and private corporate bond investments	0	0
Carrying Value [Member] | Commitments to Extend Credit [Member]
Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to fund bank credit facilities, bridge loans and private corporate bond investments	$ 0	$ 0