REVISION OF PRIOR PERIOD FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
REVENUES
Policy charges and fee income	$ 914	$ 877	$ 996	$ 980	$ 938	$ 929	$ 1,873	$ 1,867	$ 2,787	$ 2,847	$ 3,778	$ 3,834	$ 3,686
Net derivative gains (losses)	(1,472)	(6,038)	9,400	(453)	(237)	(1,633)	3,362	(1,870)	1,890	(2,323)	(4,012)	(250)	191
Net investment income (loss)	879	1,022	629	824			1,651		2,530	2,815
Other income	155	124	155	143			279		434	409
Total revenues	1,840	(2,550)	12,609	3,078	3,156	1,709	10,059	4,865	11,899	7,943	9,619	12,069	12,430
BENEFITS AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS
Policyholders’ benefits	1,034	736	2,776	1,735	895	921	3,512	1,816	4,546	3,551	4,385	2,856	4,380
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances	306			320	317	307		624	930	944	1,263	1,067
Commissions and distribution-related payments	342			317					982	905	1,242	1,165	1,088
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, net	90	162	1,303	128	175	186	1,465	361	1,555	489	597	371	515
Other operating costs and expenses	436	434	438	449	455	411	872	866	1,308	1,315	1,890	1,810
Total benefits and other deductions	2,763	2,458	5,750	3,505	2,718	2,671	8,208	5,389	10,971	8,894	11,679	9,579	11,187
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes	(923)	(5,008)	6,859	(427)	438	(962)	1,851	(524)	928	(951)	(2,060)	2,490	1,243
Income tax (expense) benefit	218	1,075	(1,434)	121	(10)	223	(359)	213	(141)	334	593	(301)	(42)
Net income (loss)	(705)	(3,933)	5,425	(306)	428	(739)	1,492	(311)	787	(617)	(1,467)	2,189	1,201
Net income (loss) attributable to Holdings	(779)	$ (4,019)	$ 5,388	(374)	$ 361	$ (805)	$ 1,369	$ (444)	590	(818)	$ (1,764)	$ 1,855	778
Net income (loss) available to Holdings’ common shareholders	$ (790)			$ (374)					$ 556	$ (818)			$ 778
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Basic (in usd per share)	$ (1.77)	$ (8.94)	$ 11.66	$ (0.76)	$ 0.74	$ (1.55)	$ 2.95	$ (0.88)	$ 1.23	$ (1.64)	$ (3.57)	$ 3.33	$ 1.39
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ (1.77)	$ (8.94)	$ 11.60	$ (0.76)	$ 0.73	$ (1.55)	$ 2.94	$ (0.88)	$ 1.22	$ (1.64)	$ (3.57)	$ 3.33	$ 1.39
As Previously Reported
REVENUES
Policy charges and fee income		$ 879	$ 991	$ 929	$ 941	$ 931	$ 1,870	$ 1,872		$ 2,801	$ 3,738	$ 3,824	$ 3,693
Net derivative gains (losses)		(6,033)	9,401	(451)	(236)	(1,630)	3,368	(1,866)		(2,317)	(4,000)	(231)	214
Net investment income (loss)		1,035	616				1,651
Other income		124	156	142			280			408
Total revenues		(2,530)	12,593	3,028	3,160	1,714	10,063	4,874		7,902	9,591	12,078	12,460
BENEFITS AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS
Policyholders’ benefits		746	2,788	1,757	896	880	3,534	1,776		3,533	4,370	2,915	4,366
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances				304	314	304		618		922	1,241	1,090
Commissions and distribution-related payments											1,242	1,160	1,081
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, net		183	1,248	85	177	198	1,431	375		460	579	333	503
Other operating costs and expenses		434	437		456	410	871	866			1,892	1,809
Total benefits and other deductions		2,489	5,706	3,468	2,719	2,638	8,195	5,357		8,825	11,626	9,617	11,154
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes		(5,019)	6,887	(440)	441	(924)	1,868	(483)		(923)	(2,035)	2,461	1,306
Income tax (expense) benefit		1,077	(1,440)	124	(11)	215	(363)	204		328	599	(307)	(49)
Net income (loss)		(3,942)	5,447	(316)	430	(709)	1,505	(279)		(595)	(1,436)	2,154	1,257
Net income (loss) attributable to Holdings		$ (4,028)	$ 5,410	$ (384)	$ 363	$ (775)	$ 1,382	$ (412)		$ (796)	$ (1,733)	$ 1,820	834
Net income (loss) available to Holdings’ common shareholders													$ 834
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Basic (in usd per share)		$ (8.96)	$ 11.71	$ (0.78)	$ 0.74	$ (1.50)	$ 2.98	$ (0.82)		$ (1.59)	$ (3.51)	$ 3.27	$ 1.49
Diluted (in usd per share)		$ (8.96)	$ 11.65	$ (0.78)	$ 0.74	$ (1.50)	$ 2.97	$ (0.82)		$ (1.59)	$ (3.51)	$ 3.27	$ 1.48
Impact of Revisions
REVENUES
Policy charges and fee income		$ (2)	$ 5	$ 51	$ (3)	$ (2)	$ 3	$ (5)		$ 46	$ 40	$ 10	$ (7)
Net derivative gains (losses)		(5)	(1)	(2)	(1)	(3)	(6)	(4)		(6)	(12)	(19)	(23)
Net investment income (loss)		(13)	13				0
Other income		0	(1)	1			(1)			1
Total revenues		(20)	16	50	(4)	(5)	(4)	(9)		41	28	(9)	(30)
BENEFITS AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS
Policyholders’ benefits		(10)	(12)	(22)	(1)	41	(22)	40		18	15	(59)	14
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances				16	3	3		6		22	22	(23)
Commissions and distribution-related payments											0	5	7
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, net		(21)	55	43	(2)	(12)	34	(14)		29	18	38	12
Other operating costs and expenses		0	1		(1)	1	1	0			(2)	1
Total benefits and other deductions		(31)	44	37	(1)	33	13	32		69	53	(38)	33
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes		11	(28)	13	(3)	(38)	(17)	(41)		(28)	(25)	29	(63)
Income tax (expense) benefit		(2)	6	(3)	1	8	4	9		6	(6)	6	7
Net income (loss)		9	(22)	10	(2)	(30)	(13)	(32)		(22)	(31)	35	(56)
Net income (loss) attributable to Holdings		$ 9	$ (22)	$ 10	$ (2)	$ (30)	$ (13)	$ (32)		$ (22)	$ (31)	$ 35	(56)
Net income (loss) available to Holdings’ common shareholders													$ (56)
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Basic (in usd per share)		$ 0.02	$ (0.05)	$ 0.02	$ 0	$ (0.05)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.06)		$ (0.05)	$ (0.06)	$ 0.06	$ (0.10)
Diluted (in usd per share)		$ 0.02	$ (0.05)	$ 0.02	$ (0.01)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.06)		$ (0.05)	$ (0.06)	$ 0.06	$ (0.09)