Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ 1,362	$ 6,415	$ 2,663
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expenses	596	679	585
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts associated with investments, net	(426)	(477)	(1,078)
(Gains) losses on investments and derivatives and from sales of businesses, net	3,197	(3,181)	854
(Income) loss from equity method investments, net of dividends or distributions	108	315	48
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	7,729	5,603	4,925
Interest credited to bank deposits	78	95	137
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	(8,556)	(7,806)	(6,037)
Goodwill impairment	1,868	0	0
Change in fair value option and trading securities	1,900	648	(1,369)
Change in residential mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	3,370	(4,530)	(487)
Change in mortgage servicing rights	153	(60)	(165)
Change in accrued investment income	219	525	(206)
Change in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	(109)	58	(1,023)
Change in deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired, net	(1,139)	(591)	(370)
Change in income tax	(883)	1,742	1,231
Change in other assets	2,951	2,360	1,948
Change in insurance-related liabilities and policy-related balances	5,918	7,081	6,491
Change in other liabilities	(1,699)	1,136	(315)
Other, net	523	261	153
Net cash provided by operating activities	17,160	10,273	7,985
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	103,823	104,302	86,529
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	1,140	2,006	1,371
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	14,673	13,486	6,361
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	1,018	1,296	322
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	974	1,121	522
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(115,793)	(116,939)	(100,713)
Purchases of equity securities	(627)	(1,481)	(949)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(11,442)	(14,694)	(8,967)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(1,942)	(1,534)	(786)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(1,323)	(1,147)	(1,008)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	1,933	2,815	1,814
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(3,258)	(3,478)	(2,548)
Net change in securitized reverse residential mortgage loans	(1,198)	0	0
Sales of businesses, net of cash and cash equivalents disposed of $29, $54 and $0, respectively	576	126	0
Sale of interest in joint venture	0	265	0
Disposal of subsidiary	0	4	0
Purchases of businesses, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired of $33, $70 and $4,175, respectively	(16)	(163)	(3,021)
Net change in policy loans	(111)	(66)	(225)
Net change in short-term investments	593	(7,949)	3,033
Net change in other invested assets	(791)	(19)	148
Other, net	(158)	(169)	(186)
Net cash used in investing activities	(11,929)	(22,218)	(18,303)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	91,284	91,946	74,296
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(86,994)	(87,625)	(69,739)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	(29)	6,444	3,076
Net change in bank deposits	(4,169)	96	(32)
Net change in short-term debt	(586)	380	(606)
Long-term debt issued	750	1,346	5,090
Long-term debt repaid	(1,702)	(2,042)	(1,061)
Collateral financing arrangements repaid	(349)	(502)	0
Cash received (paid) in connection with collateral financing arrangements	(44)	37	0
Net change in liability for securitized reverse residential mortgage loans	1,198	0	0
Common stock issued, net of issuance costs	1,000	2,950	3,529
Redemption of convertible preferred stock	0	(2,805)	0
Preferred stock redemption premium	0	(146)	0
Dividends on preferred stock	(122)	(122)	(122)
Dividends on common stock	(811)	(787)	(784)
Other, net	609	212	(266)
Net cash provided by financing activities	35	9,382	13,381
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	11	(22)	(129)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	5,277	(2,585)	2,934
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	10,461	13,046	10,112
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	15,738	10,461	13,046
Cash and cash equivalents, subsidiaries held-for-sale, beginning of year	0	89	88
Cash and cash equivalents, subsidiaries held-for-sale, end of year	0	0	89
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, beginning of year	10,461	12,957	10,024
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, end of year	15,738	10,461	12,957
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Net cash paid for Interest	1,335	1,565	1,489
Net cash paid for Income tax	554	676	(23)
Business acquisitions:
Assets acquired	595	327	125,728
Liabilities assumed	(579)	(94)	(109,306)
Redeemable and non-redeemable noncontrolling interests assumed	0	0	(130)
Net assets acquired	16	233	16,292
Cash paid, excluding transaction costs of $0, $0 and $88, respectively	(16)	(233)	(7,196)
Other purchase price adjustments	0	0	98
Securities issued	0	0	9,194
Purchase money mortgages on sales of real estate joint ventures	0	0	2
Real estate and real estate joint ventures acquired in satisfaction of debt	553	292	93
Collateral financing arrangements repaid	102	148	0
Redemption of advances agreements in long-term debt	3,806	0	0
Issuance of funding agreements in policyholder account balances	$ 3,806	$ 0	$ 0