Segment Information (Operating Income of Reportable Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	$ 5,085	$ 4,834	$ 6,487
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	6,098	6,368	6,244
Operating Segments | PGIM | PGIM
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	998	959	979
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Workplace Solutions division
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	1,586	1,278	1,497
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Workplace Solutions division | Retirement
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	1,301	1,049	1,244
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Workplace Solutions division | Group Insurance
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	285	229	253
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Individual Solutions division
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	1,930	2,148	2,007
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Individual Solutions division | Individual Annuities
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	1,843	1,925	2,198
Operating Segments | Total U.S. Individual Solutions division | Individual Life
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	87	223	(191)
Operating Segments | Assurance IQ division
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	(9)	0	0
Operating Segments | Assurance IQ division | Assurance IQ
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	(9)	0	0
Operating Segments | Total International Insurance division | International Businesses
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	3,359	3,266	3,198
Operating Segments | Total Corporate and Other | Total Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	(1,766)	(1,283)	(1,437)
Segment Reconciling Items | Realized investment gains (losses), net, and related adjustments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	(764)	466	(417)
Segment Reconciling Items | Charges related to realized investment gains (losses), net
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	(125)	(316)	544
Segment Reconciling Items | Segment Reconciling Items, Market Experience Updates
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	(462)	0	0
Segment Reconciling Items | Segment Reconciling Items, Other Adjustments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	(47)	0	0
Segment Reconciling Items | Equity in earnings of operating joint ventures and earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	(103)	(87)	33
Segment Reconciling Items | Closed Block division
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	36	(62)	45
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Divested and Run-off Businesses
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	452	(1,535)	38
U.S. Businesses | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures	$ 3,507	$ 3,426	$ 3,504