Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 7,314		$ 12,102
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	64,674		51,495
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	449		789
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	5,033		4,625
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	271		544
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	510		453
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(65,745)		(61,507)
Purchases of equity securities	(644)		(393)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(4,826)		(4,877)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(721)		(279)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(926)		(586)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	777		1,011
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(4,300)		(1,549)
Net change in securitized reverse residential mortgage loans	0		(1,116)
Sales of businesses	373	[1]	0	[1]
Sale of bank deposits	(6,395)		0
Net change in policy loans	(111)		(46)
Net change in short-term investments	3,880		(1,037)
Net change in other invested assets	(174)		(225)
Other, net	22		(79)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(7,853)		(12,777)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	41,507		49,224
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(45,852)		(44,889)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	(440)		6,586
Net change in bank deposits	8		(3,717)
Net change in short-term debt	0		(585)
Long-term debt repaid	(356)		(1,022)
Collateral financing arrangements repaid	0		(349)
Cash received (paid) in connection with collateral financing arrangements	0		(44)
Net change in liability for securitized reverse residential mortgage loans	0		1,116
Dividends on preferred stock	(61)		(61)
Dividends on common stock	(505)		0
Other, net	(91)		32
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(5,790)		6,291
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	(225)		(42)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(6,554)		5,574
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	15,738		10,461
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	9,184		16,035
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Net cash paid (received) for Interest	618		494
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax	444		302
Non-cash transactions:
Real estate and real estate joint ventures acquired in satisfaction of debt	55		221
Collateral financing arrangements repaid	0		102
Redemption of Advances Agreements in Long-Term Debt	0		3,806
Issuance of funding agreements in policyholder account balances	0		3,806
Dividends on common stock declared and unpaid	$ 303		$ 0

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