Business Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations - Held for Sale Income Statements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			36 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019
Benefits and expenses:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ (1,084)	$ (4)	$ 42	$ (20)	$ 29	$ (32)	$ 92	$ 440	$ (1,066)	$ 529	$ (2,473)
Held for sale
Benefits and expenses:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(1,066)	529	(2,473)
Individual Life Transaction | Held for sale
Revenues:
Net investment income									665	649	672
Fee income									750	743	754
Premiums									27	27	24
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									45	(44)	(18)
Other revenue									(21)	4	(8)
Total revenues									1,466	1,379	1,424
Benefits and expenses:
Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners/policyholders									1,065	1,050	978
Operating expenses									83	96	102
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired									153	135	176
Interest expense									10	9	8
Total benefits and expenses									1,311	1,290	1,264
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes									155	89	160
Income tax expense (benefit)									31	17	53
Loss on sale, net of tax									(1,108)	0	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(984)	72	107
2018 Transaction | Held for sale
Revenues:
Net investment income									0	510	1,266
Fee income									0	295	801
Premiums									0	(50)	190
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									0	(345)	(1,234)
Other revenue									0	10	19
Total revenues									0	420	1,042
Benefits and expenses:
Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners/policyholders									0	442	978
Operating expenses									0	(14)	250
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired									0	49	127
Interest expense									0	10	22
Total benefits and expenses									0	487	1,377
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes									0	(67)	(335)
Income tax expense (benefit)									0	(19)	(178)
Loss on sale, net of tax									(82)	505	(2,423)	$ (2,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									$ (82)	$ 457	$ (2,580)