Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Balances of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	[2]	$ 389,714	[1]	$ 391,096
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities	[2]	21,580		21,597
Fixed maturities, trading	[2]	3,621		3,884
Equity securities	[2]	6,176		7,522
Commercial mortgage and other loans	[2]	63,559	[1]	63,559
Other invested assets	[2]	18,071	[1]	15,606
Short-term investments	[1]	7,961		5,467
Other assets	[2]	20,694	[1]	20,832
Separate account assets		272,667		312,281
TOTAL ASSETS		873,712		896,552
Future policy benefits		310,817		293,527
Other Liabilities	[2]	17,853	[1]	20,802
Total liabilities		812,640		832,833
Netting		(31,880)		(13,519)
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net Liability		28,769		14,035
Future policy benefits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net Liability		27,900		12,800
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value Of Embedded Derivative Gross Asset		200		700
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value Of Embedded Derivative Gross Liability		28,100		13,500
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		389,714		391,096
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		21,390		21,581
Fixed maturities, trading		3,621		3,884
Equity securities		6,039		7,385
Commercial mortgage and other loans		670		228
Other invested assets		3,764		1,433
Short-term investments		6,112		3,936
Cash equivalents		21,172		9,006
Other assets		382		113
Separate account assets		249,044		288,724
TOTAL ASSETS		701,908		727,386
Future policy benefits		27,935		12,831
Policyholders' account balances		1,206		1,316
Other Liabilities		950		936
Notes issued by consolidated VIEs		799		800
Total liabilities		30,890		15,883
Assets Netting		(31,880)		(13,519)
Liabilities Netting		(12,381)		(6,705)
Netting		(19,499)		(6,814)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Other invested assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Netting		(31,880)		(13,519)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Other liabilities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities Netting		(12,381)		(6,705)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		43,643		35,659
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		200		185
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		11,489		11,497
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		211		212
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Foreign government bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		117,083		119,054
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		791		814
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. public corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		95,922		98,339
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. private corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		35,445		36,533
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Foreign public corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		27,976		29,825
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Foreign private corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		25,811		28,240
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		13,110		13,603
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		13,380		13,174
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		1,607		1,662
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		15,572		15,574
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		1,869		1,896
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		3,393		3,201
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		1,243		1,158
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		1,466		1,790
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | All other
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		893		261
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		0		0
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		1,233		1,505
Fixed maturities, trading		0		0
Equity securities		4,571		5,813
Commercial mortgage and other loans		0		0
Other invested assets		133		6
Short-term investments		2,096		1,806
Cash equivalents		1,442		2,079
Other assets		0		0
Separate account assets		39,056		46,574
TOTAL ASSETS		48,531		57,783
Future policy benefits		0		0
Policyholders' account balances		0		0
Other Liabilities		135		41
Notes issued by consolidated VIEs		0		0
Total liabilities		135		41
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		0		0
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		0		0
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Foreign government bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		0		0
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | U.S. public corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | U.S. private corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Foreign public corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Foreign private corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		0		0
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		0		0
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		0		0
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		1,233		1,505
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | All other
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		384,130		386,781
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		19,346		19,346
Fixed maturities, trading		3,372		3,597
Equity securities		874		939
Commercial mortgage and other loans		670		228
Other invested assets		34,930		14,379
Short-term investments		3,963		1,975
Cash equivalents		19,729		6,796
Other assets		0		0
Separate account assets		208,460		240,433
TOTAL ASSETS		675,474		674,474
Future policy benefits		0		0
Policyholders' account balances		0		0
Other Liabilities		13,149		7,495
Notes issued by consolidated VIEs		0		0
Total liabilities		13,149		7,495
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		43,528		35,554
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		200		185
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		11,485		11,493
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		211		212
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Foreign government bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		117,062		119,032
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		767		790
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | U.S. public corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		95,434		97,959
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | U.S. private corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		33,755		34,749
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Foreign public corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		27,915		29,756
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Foreign private corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		23,554		27,237
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		12,507		12,966
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		12,639		12,238
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		1,543		1,593
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		15,572		15,574
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		1,869		1,896
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		3,186		3,189
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		1,130		1,158
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		233		285
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | All other
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		886		261
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		5,584		4,315
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		811		730
Fixed maturities, trading		249		287
Equity securities		594		633
Commercial mortgage and other loans		0		0
Other invested assets		581		567
Short-term investments		53		155
Cash equivalents		1		131
Other assets		382		113
Separate account assets		1,528		1,717
TOTAL ASSETS		9,783		8,648
Future policy benefits		27,935		12,831
Policyholders' account balances		1,206		1,316
Other Liabilities		47		105
Notes issued by consolidated VIEs		799		800
Total liabilities		29,987		15,052
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		115		105
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		4		4
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Foreign government bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		21		22
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		24		24
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | U.S. public corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		488		380
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | U.S. private corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		1,690		1,784
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Foreign public corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		61		69
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Foreign private corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		2,257		1,003
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		603		637
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		741		936
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		64		69
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		0		0
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		207		12
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		113		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | All other
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities		7		0
Prudential Netting Agreement | U.S. private corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		5,616		4,751
Prudential Netting Agreement | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. private corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		5,616		4,757
Other invested assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value investment measured at NAV per share		4,131		4,213
Separate account assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value investment measured at NAV per share		$ 23,623		$ 23,557

[1] March 31, 2020 amounts include the impacts of the January 1, 2020 adoption of ASU 2016-13. See Note 2 for details.

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