Earnings Per Share (Reconciliation of the Numerators and Denominators of the Basic and Diluted Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Basic earnings per share
Net income (loss)	$ 1,138	$ 1,425	$ 738	$ 937	$ 849	$ 1,675	$ 200	$ 1,364	$ 4,238	$ 4,088	$ 7,974
Less: Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ 10	$ 7	$ 30	$ 5	$ 7	$ 3	$ 3	$ 1	52	14	111
Less: Dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating unvested share-based payment awards									46	48	95
Net income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial available to holders of Common Stock, Basic Income									$ 4,140	$ 4,026	$ 7,768
Net income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial available to holders of Common Stock, Basic Weighted Average Shares									404.8	417.6	427.0
Net income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial available to holders of Common Stock, Basic Per Share Amount	$ 2.78	$ 3.47	$ 1.73	$ 2.25	$ 2.01	$ 3.97	$ 0.46	$ 3.19	$ 10.23	$ 9.64	$ 18.19
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Add: Dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating unvested share-based payment awards—Basic									$ 46	$ 48	$ 95
Less: Dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating unvested share-based payment awards—Diluted									$ 45	$ 47	$ 94
Stock options, Weighted Average Shares									1.1	1.5	2.1
Deferred and long-term compensation programs (in shares)									1.4	1.2	1.1
Exchangeable Surplus Notes									$ 12	$ 21	$ 17
Exchangeable Surplus Notes (in shares)									3.6	5.9	5.8
Diluted earnings per share
Net income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial available to holders of Common Stock, Diluted Income									$ 4,153	$ 4,048	$ 7,786
Net income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial available to holders of Common Stock, Diluted Weighted Average Shares									410.9	426.2	436.0
Net income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial available to holders of Common Stock, Diluted Per Share Amount	$ 2.76	$ 3.44	$ 1.71	$ 2.22	$ 1.99	$ 3.90	$ 0.46	$ 3.14	$ 10.11	$ 9.50	$ 17.86