Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 01, 2010
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) related to unrealized investment gains (losses)	$ 2,958
Investments in Foreign Subsidiaries and Foreign Corporate Joint Ventures that are Essentially Permanent in Duration [Member]
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Liability recognized in purchase accounting for the anticipated and estimated costs associated with restructuring foreign branches into subsidiaries	92	277
Change in liability recognized in purchase accounting for the anticipated and estimated costs associated with restructuring foreign branches into subsidiaries	35
Balance, beginning of period	720
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) related to unrealized investment gains (losses)	295
Offsetting reduction in gross deferred tax asset related to the branch transfer to subsidiary	(896)
Balance, end of period	118
Investments in Foreign Subsidiaries and Foreign Corporate Joint Ventures that are Essentially Permanent in Duration [Member] | Asia [Member]
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	566
Income tax expense (benefit)	10
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) related to unrealized investment gains (losses)	320
Offsetting reduction in gross deferred tax asset related to the branch transfer to subsidiary	(896)
Balance, end of period	0
Investments in Foreign Subsidiaries and Foreign Corporate Joint Ventures that are Essentially Permanent in Duration [Member] | Europe, the Middle East and Africa [Member]
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	154
Income tax expense (benefit)	(11)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) related to unrealized investment gains (losses)	(25)
Offsetting reduction in gross deferred tax asset related to the branch transfer to subsidiary	0
Balance, end of period	$ 118