Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Revenues:
Net investment income	$ 800	$ 687	$ 2,084	$ 2,057
Fee income	507	494	1,470	1,459
Premiums	604	565	1,819	1,717
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total impairments	(10)	(3)	(80)	(32)
Other net realized capital gains (losses)	(60)	(17)	(224)	25
Total net realized capital gains (losses)	(70)	(20)	(304)	(7)
Other revenue	90	106	263	325
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income	140	43	87	115
Total revenues	2,071	1,875	5,419	5,666
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits	1,020	705	2,327	2,009
Interest credited to contract owner account balances	279	298	851	879
Operating expenses	630	627	1,913	1,979
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired	241	36	336	136
Interest expense	40	51	120	135
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities:
Interest expense	5	8	18	29
Other expense	1	1	3	5
Total benefits and expenses	2,216	1,726	5,568	5,172
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(145)	149	(149)	494
Income tax expense (benefit)	(72)	5	(73)	47
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(73)	144	(76)	447
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(140)	(4)	(361)	18
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	(213)	140	(437)	465
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(213)	140	(437)	465
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	106	19	33	44
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	(319)	121	(470)	421
Less: Preferred stock dividends	14	14	32	24
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	(333)	107	(502)	397
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues:
Net investment income	(2)	(2)	(8)	(9)
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	(2)	(2)	(8)	(9)
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	(2)	(2)	(8)	(9)
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities:
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Other expense	0	0	0	0
Total benefits and expenses	(2)	(2)	(8)	(9)
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	503	(270)	490	(835)
Net income (loss)	503	(270)	490	(835)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	503	(270)	490	(835)
Less: Preferred stock dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	503	(270)	490	(835)
Parent Issuer
Revenues:
Net investment income	2	4	7	27
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)	8	0	3	0
Total net realized capital gains (losses)	8	0	3	0
Other revenue	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	10	4	10	27
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits	0	0	0	0
Interest credited to contract owner account balances	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	3	4	5	10
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	33	44	101	116
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities:
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Other expense	0	0	0	0
Total benefits and expenses	36	48	106	126
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(26)	(44)	(96)	(99)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(5)	(13)	(20)	(24)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(21)	(31)	(76)	(75)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	(21)	(31)	(76)	(75)
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(298)	151	(394)	495
Net income (loss)	(319)	120	(470)	420
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	(319)	120	(470)	420
Less: Preferred stock dividends	14	14	32	24
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	(333)	106	(502)	396
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	7	9	22	23
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities:
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Other expense	0	0	0	0
Total benefits and expenses	7	9	22	23
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(7)	(9)	(22)	(23)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(5)	(6)	(10)	(8)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(2)	(3)	(12)	(15)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	(82)
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	(2)	(3)	(12)	(97)
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(205)	119	(96)	340
Net income (loss)	(207)	116	(108)	243
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	(207)	116	(108)	243
Less: Preferred stock dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	(207)	116	(108)	243
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Net investment income	800	685	2,085	2,039
Fee income	507	494	1,470	1,459
Premiums	604	565	1,819	1,717
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total impairments	(10)	(3)	(80)	(32)
Other net realized capital gains (losses)	(68)	(17)	(227)	25
Total net realized capital gains (losses)	(78)	(20)	(307)	(7)
Other revenue	90	106	263	325
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income	140	43	87	115
Total revenues	2,063	1,873	5,417	5,648
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits	1,020	705	2,327	2,009
Interest credited to contract owner account balances	279	298	851	879
Operating expenses	627	623	1,908	1,969
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired	241	36	336	136
Interest expense	2	0	5	5
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities:
Interest expense	5	8	18	29
Other expense	1	1	3	5
Total benefits and expenses	2,175	1,671	5,448	5,032
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(112)	202	(31)	616
Income tax expense (benefit)	(62)	24	(43)	79
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(50)	178	12	537
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(140)	(4)	(361)	100
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	(190)	174	(349)	637
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(190)	174	(349)	637
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	106	19	33	44
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	(296)	155	(382)	593
Less: Preferred stock dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	$ (296)	$ 155	$ (382)	$ 593