Segment Information (Total Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 815,662	$ 836,781
Latin America [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	23,300	23,272
Asia [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	118,197	131,138
Europe, the Middle East and Africa [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	23,293	23,474
Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	336,021	332,387
Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	43,441	44,138
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	219,978	217,352
Corporate & Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 51,432	$ 65,020