Consolidated Investment Entities - Consolidation of Investment Entities into the Consolidated Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Net investment income									$ 3,294	$ 3,354	$ 3,343
Fee income									2,627	2,471	2,470
Premiums									2,121	2,795	2,554
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									(227)	(363)	(560)
Other revenue									371	342	385
Income related to consolidated investment entities									432	189	524
Total revenues	$ 2,186	$ 2,184	$ 2,191	$ 2,057	$ 2,324	$ 2,110	$ 2,088	$ 2,266	8,618	8,788	8,716
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits and Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners									4,636	5,314	4,698
Other expense									3,367	3,358	3,258
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities									87	106	284
Total benefits and expenses	1,966	2,144	2,036	1,944	2,216	2,216	2,118	2,228	8,090	8,778	8,240
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	220	40	155	113	108	(106)	(30)	38	528	10	476
Income tax expense (benefit)									740	(29)	84
Income (Loss) from continuing operations									(212)	39	392
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(2,616)	134	64	(162)	(478)	(145)	137	149	(2,580)	(337)	146
Net income (loss)	(3,083)	214	219	(142)	(375)	(251)	137	191	(2,792)	(298)	538
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	82	65	52	1	42	12	(25)	0	200	29	130
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	$ (3,165)	$ 149	$ 167	$ (143)	$ (417)	$ (263)	$ 162	$ 191	(2,992)	(327)	408
Before Consolidation
Revenues:
Net investment income									3,391	3,359	3,373
Fee income									2,675	2,520	2,544
Premiums									2,121	2,795	2,554
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									(227)	(363)	(560)
Other revenue									371	342	391
Income related to consolidated investment entities									0	0	0
Total revenues									8,331	8,653	8,302
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits and Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners									4,636	5,314	4,698
Other expense									3,367	3,358	3,258
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities									0	0	0
Total benefits and expenses									8,003	8,672	7,956
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									328	(19)	346
Income tax expense (benefit)									740	(29)	84
Income (Loss) from continuing operations									(412)	10	262
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(2,580)	(337)	146
Net income (loss)									(2,992)	(327)	408
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders									(2,992)	(327)	408
CLOs
Revenues:
Net investment income									0	0	0
Fee income									0	0	0
Premiums									0	0	0
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									0	0	0
Other revenue									0	0	0
Income related to consolidated investment entities									82	118	312
Total revenues									82	118	312
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits and Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners									0	0	0
Other expense									0	0	0
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities									82	118	324
Total benefits and expenses									82	118	324
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									0	0	(12)
Income tax expense (benefit)									0	0	0
Income (Loss) from continuing operations									0	0	(12)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									0	0	(12)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	(12)
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders									0	0	0
VOEs and LPs
Revenues:
Net investment income									0	0	0
Fee income									0	0	0
Premiums									0	0	0
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									0	0	0
Other revenue									0	0	0
Income related to consolidated investment entities									350	71	228
Total revenues									350	71	228
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits and Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners									0	0	0
Other expense									0	0	0
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities									55	44	54
Total benefits and expenses									55	44	54
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									295	27	174
Income tax expense (benefit)									0	0	0
Income (Loss) from continuing operations									295	27	174
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									295	27	174
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders									295	27	174
CLOs Adjustments
Revenues:
Net investment income									(2)	(7)	2
Fee income									(9)	(17)	(36)
Premiums									0	0	0
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									0	0	0
Other revenue									0	0	(5)
Income related to consolidated investment entities									0	0	(16)
Total revenues									(11)	(24)	(55)
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits and Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners									0	0	0
Other expense									0	0	0
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities									(11)	(24)	(55)
Total benefits and expenses									(11)	(24)	(55)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									0	0	0
Income tax expense (benefit)									0	0	0
Income (Loss) from continuing operations									0	0	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									0	0	0
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders									0	0	0
VOEs Adjustments
Revenues:
Net investment income									(95)	2	(32)
Fee income									(39)	(32)	(38)
Premiums									0	0	0
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									0	0	0
Other revenue									0	0	(1)
Income related to consolidated investment entities									0	0	0
Total revenues									(134)	(30)	(71)
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits and Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners									0	0	0
Other expense									0	0	0
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities									(39)	(32)	(39)
Total benefits and expenses									(39)	(32)	(39)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(95)	2	(32)
Income tax expense (benefit)									0	0	0
Income (Loss) from continuing operations									(95)	2	(32)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									(95)	2	(32)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									200	29	142
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders									$ (295)	$ (27)	$ (174)