Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Condensed Statements of Financial Position) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
ASSETS
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:	[1]	$ 391,096		$ 353,656
Equity securities, at fair value	[1]	7,522		6,238
Other invested assets	[1]	15,606		14,526
Total investments		522,760		479,245
Cash and cash equivalents		16,327	[1]	15,353	[1]	$ 14,490
Investment in subsidiaries		1,309		1,329		$ 1,483
Other assets	[1]	20,832		16,118
TOTAL ASSETS		896,552		815,078
LIABILITIES
Short-term debt		1,933		2,451
Long-term debt		18,646		17,378
Other liabilities	[1]	20,802		16,018
Total liabilities		832,833		766,047
EQUITY
Preferred Stock ($.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued)		0		0
Common Stock ($.01 par value; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized; 666,305,189 and 660,111,339 shares issued as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively)		6		6
Additional paid-in capital		25,532		24,828
Common Stock held in treasury, at cost (267,472,781 and 249,398,887 shares as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively)		(19,453)		(17,593)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		24,039		10,906
Retained earnings		32,991		30,470
Total Prudential Financial, Inc. equity		63,115		48,617
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		896,552		815,078
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, amortized cost		346,574		331,745
Equity securities, at cost		$ 5,560		$ 5,219
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, shares authorized		10,000,000		10,000,000		10,000,000
Preferred Stock, shares issued		0		0
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized		1,500,000,000		1,500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued		666,305,189		660,111,339
Common Stock held in treasury, shares		267,472,781		249,398,887
Prudential Financial
ASSETS
Investment contracts from subsidiaries		$ 1		$ 1
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:		1,697		1,387
Equity securities, at fair value		25		25
Other invested assets		2,326		3,537
Total investments		4,049		4,950
Cash and cash equivalents		1,162		1,327		$ 1,677	$ 1,128
Due from subsidiaries		1,670		1,601
Loans receivable from subsidiaries		7,151		7,044
Investment in subsidiaries		76,101		57,934
Property, plant and equipment		471		502
Income taxes receivable		540		413
Other assets		101		98
TOTAL ASSETS		91,245		73,869
LIABILITIES
Due to subsidiaries		2,560		2,117
Loans payable to subsidiaries		6,110		5,260
Short-term debt		1,204		1,115
Long-term debt		17,430		16,141
Other liabilities		826		619
Total liabilities		28,130		25,252
EQUITY
Preferred Stock ($.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued)		0		0
Common Stock ($.01 par value; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized; 666,305,189 and 660,111,339 shares issued as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively)		6		6
Additional paid-in capital		25,532		24,828
Common Stock held in treasury, at cost (267,472,781 and 249,398,887 shares as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively)		(19,453)		(17,593)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		24,039		10,906
Retained earnings		32,991		30,470
Total Prudential Financial, Inc. equity		63,115		48,617
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		91,245		73,869
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, amortized cost		1,643		1,354
Equity securities, at cost		$ 25		$ 25
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, shares authorized		10,000,000		10,000,000
Preferred Stock, shares issued		0		0
Prudential Financial | Other common stocks
EQUITY
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized		1,500,000,000		1,500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued		666,305,189		660,111,339
Common Stock held in treasury, shares		267,472,781		249,398,887

[1] See Note 4 for details of balances associated with variable interest entities.