Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Revenues:
Net investment income	$ 586	$ 712	$ 1,284	$ 1,370
Fee income	458	483	963	965
Premiums	607	577	1,215	1,152
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total impairments	(50)	(3)	(70)	(29)
Other net realized capital gains (losses)	49	28	(164)	42
Total net realized capital gains (losses)	(1)	25	(234)	13
Other revenue	81	105	173	219
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income	(68)	67	(53)	72
Total revenues	1,663	1,969	3,348	3,791
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits	711	659	1,307	1,304
Interest credited to contract owner account balances	286	292	572	581
Operating expenses	643	670	1,283	1,352
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired	19	43	95	100
Interest expense	40	42	80	84
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities:
Interest expense	10	16	13	21
Other expense	2	4	2	4
Total benefits and expenses	1,711	1,726	3,352	3,446
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(48)	243	(4)	345
Income tax expense (benefit)	5	33	(1)	42
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(53)	210	(3)	303
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(93)	42	(221)	22
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	(146)	252	(224)	325
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(146)	252	(224)	325
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(79)	26	(73)	25
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	(67)	226	(151)	300
Less: Preferred stock dividends	4	0	18	10
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	(71)	226	(169)	290
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues:
Net investment income	(3)	(4)	(6)	(7)
Fee income	0	0	0	0
Premiums	0	0	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total impairments	0	0	0	0
Other net realized capital gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Total net realized capital gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Other revenue	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	(3)	(4)	(6)	(7)
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits	0	0	0	0
Interest credited to contract owner account balances	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(3)	(4)	(6)	(7)
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities:
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Other expense	0	0	0	0
Total benefits and expenses	(3)	(4)	(6)	(7)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	87	(403)	(13)	(565)
Net income (loss)	87	(403)	(13)	(565)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	87	(403)	(13)	(565)
Less: Preferred stock dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	87	(403)	(13)	(565)
Parent Issuer
Revenues:
Net investment income	2	8	5	23
Fee income	0	0	0	0
Premiums	0	0	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total impairments	0	0	0	0
Other net realized capital gains (losses)	21	0	(5)	0
Total net realized capital gains (losses)	21	0	(5)	0
Other revenue	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	23	8	0	23
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits	0	0	0	0
Interest credited to contract owner account balances	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	(2)	3	2	6
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	34	35	68	72
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities:
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Other expense	0	0	0	0
Total benefits and expenses	32	38	70	78
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(9)	(30)	(70)	(55)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(2)	(6)	(15)	(11)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(7)	(24)	(55)	(44)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	(7)	(24)	(55)	(44)
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(60)	250	(96)	344
Net income (loss)	(67)	226	(151)	300
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	(67)	226	(151)	300
Less: Preferred stock dividends	4	0	18	10
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	(71)	226	(169)	290
Subsidiary Guarantor
Revenues:
Net investment income	0	0	0	0
Fee income	0	0	0	0
Premiums	0	0	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total impairments	0	0	0	0
Other net realized capital gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Total net realized capital gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Other revenue	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits	0	0	0	0
Interest credited to contract owner account balances	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	8	8	15	14
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities:
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Other expense	0	0	0	0
Total benefits and expenses	8	8	15	14
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(8)	(8)	(15)	(14)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(2)	(1)	(5)	(2)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(6)	(7)	(10)	(12)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(3)	0	(82)
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	(6)	(10)	(10)	(94)
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(27)	153	109	221
Net income (loss)	(33)	143	99	127
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	(33)	143	99	127
Less: Preferred stock dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	(33)	143	99	127
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Net investment income	587	708	1,285	1,354
Fee income	458	483	963	965
Premiums	607	577	1,215	1,152
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total impairments	(50)	(3)	(70)	(29)
Other net realized capital gains (losses)	28	28	(159)	42
Total net realized capital gains (losses)	(22)	25	(229)	13
Other revenue	81	105	173	219
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income	(68)	67	(53)	72
Total revenues	1,643	1,965	3,354	3,775
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits	711	659	1,307	1,304
Interest credited to contract owner account balances	286	292	572	581
Operating expenses	645	667	1,281	1,346
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired	19	43	95	100
Interest expense	1	3	3	5
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities:
Interest expense	10	16	13	21
Other expense	2	4	2	4
Total benefits and expenses	1,674	1,684	3,273	3,361
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(31)	281	81	414
Income tax expense (benefit)	9	40	19	55
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(40)	241	62	359
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(93)	45	(221)	104
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	(133)	286	(159)	463
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(133)	286	(159)	463
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(79)	26	(73)	25
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	(54)	260	(86)	438
Less: Preferred stock dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	$ (54)	$ 260	$ (86)	$ 438