Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Total Holdings Equity	Preferred Stock and Additional Paid-In Capital	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Treasury Stock	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Non-controlling Interest
Beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 17,177	$ 15,576	$ 1,269	$ 5	$ 1,985	$ (2,245)	$ 10,699	$ 3,863	$ 1,601
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock compensation	71	64			19	45			7
Purchase of treasury stock	(430)	(430)			(10)	(420)
Reissuance of treasury stock	(46)	(46)					(46)
Retirement of common stock	0					320	(320)
Repurchase of AB Holding units	(13)								(13)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest	(108)								(108)
Dividends on common stock	(74)	(74)					(74)
Dividends on preferred stock	(13)	(13)					(13)
Issuance of preferred stock	293	293	293
Net income (loss)	(1,400)	(1,488)					(1,488)		88
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,126)	(3,123)						(3,123)	(3)
Other	(63)	(66)			(66)				3
End of year at Mar. 31, 2021	12,268	10,693	1,562	5	1,928	(2,300)	8,758	740	1,575
Beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2021	13,095	11,519	1,562	4	1,919	(2,850)	8,880	2,004	1,576
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock compensation	69	50			19	31			19
Purchase of treasury stock	(278)	(278)			(5)	(273)
Reissuance of treasury stock	(31)	(31)					(31)
Retirement of common stock	0					22	(22)
Repurchase of AB Holding units	(14)								(14)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest	(139)								(139)
Dividends on common stock	(70)	(70)					(70)
Dividends on preferred stock	(14)	(14)					(14)
Issuance of preferred stock	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	666	573					573		93
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,795)	(3,791)						(3,791)	(4)
Other	(6)	(4)			0		(4)		(2)
End of year at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 9,483	$ 7,954	$ 1,562	$ 4	$ 1,933	$ (3,070)	$ 9,312	$ (1,787)	$ 1,529