Separate Accounts, Death Benefits and Other Insurance Benefit Features (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member]
Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB, International GMDB/GMIB, and UL secondary guarantee benefits
Liability, balance as of January 1	$ 1,158	$ 1,115
Incurred	108	134
Paid	(135)	(122)
Unlock	(79)	(64)
Currency translation adjustment	(2)
Liability balance as of June 30	1,050	1,063
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of January 1	724	686
Incurred	65	65
Paid	(63)	(65)
Unlock	(49)	(27)
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of June 30	677	659
Universal Life [Member] | UL Secondary Guarantees [Member]
Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB, International GMDB/GMIB, and UL secondary guarantee benefits
Liability, balance as of January 1	228	113
Incurred	53	27
Paid	0
Unlock	8
Currency translation adjustment	0
Liability balance as of June 30	289	140
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of January 1	22	30
Incurred	(2)	5
Paid	0
Unlock	0
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of June 30	$ 20	$ 35