Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 2,733		$ 5,758
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	30,024		25,815
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	249		166
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	2,510		2,160
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	86		251
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	225		188
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(34,698)		(27,657)
Purchases of equity securities	(389)		(108)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(1,764)		(1,802)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(426)		(117)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(481)		(278)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	330		417
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(2,428)		(1,566)
Net change in securitized reverse residential mortgage loans	0		(561)
Sales of businesses	373	[1]	0	[1]
Sale of bank deposits	(6,395)		0
Net change in policy loans	(52)		(53)
Net change in short-term investments	3,303		5,522
Net change in other invested assets	(226)		(170)
Other, net	40		(40)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(9,719)		2,167
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	21,370		25,069
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(20,034)		(23,247)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	528		(1,220)
Net change in bank deposits	8		(50)
Net change in short-term debt	0		(585)
Long-term debt repaid	(240)		(349)
Net change in liability for securitized reverse residential mortgage loans	0		561
Dividends on preferred stock	(30)		(30)
Dividends on common stock	(203)		0
Other, net	(75)		91
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,324		240
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	(93)		41
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(5,755)		8,206
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	15,738		10,461
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	9,983		18,667
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Net cash paid (received) for Interest	264		266
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax	217		83
Non-cash transactions:
Real estate and real estate joint ventures acquired in satisfaction of debt	$ 55		$ 123

[1] See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2012 Annual Report.