Separate Accounts, Death Benefits and Other Insurance Benefit Features Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	[1],[2]	$ 22,011
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3]	3,410
Separate Accounts, Liability		131,477	[1],[2]		$ 134,689
Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit [Member] | UNITED STATES
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value		7,800
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk		$ 0
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age		71 years
Secondary Guarantees [Member] | Universal Life [Member]
Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB and UL secondary guarantee benefits
Liability, balance, beginning of period		$ 2,041		$ 1,802
Incurred		146		115
Paid		0
Unlock		11
Liability balance, end of period		2,176		1,917
Reinsurance recoverable asset, beginning of period		2,041		1,802
Reinsurance recoverable asset, end of period		2,176		1,917
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts [Abstract]
Reinsurance Recoverables on Paid Losses		0
Secondary Guarantees [Member] | Reinsurance Recoverable [Member] | Universal Life [Member]
Separate Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Reinsurance Recoverables on Unpaid Losses		135		115
Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB and UL secondary guarantee benefits
Unlock		0
Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3]	562
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member]
Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB and UL secondary guarantee benefits
Liability, balance, beginning of period	[4]	812		849
Incurred	[4]	81		89
Paid	[4]	(56)		(57)
Unlock	[4]	61		24
Liability balance, end of period	[4]	776		857
Reinsurance recoverable asset, beginning of period	[4]	480		533
Reinsurance recoverable asset, end of period	[4]	487		527
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	[1],[2]	3,904
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment, Fair Value		$ 45,455			48,852
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share, Percent Debt Securities		17.00%
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share, Percent Equity Securities		83.00%
Reinsurance Recoverables on Paid Losses	[4]	$ 45
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | Reinsurance Recoverable [Member]
Separate Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Reinsurance Recoverables on Unpaid Losses	[4]	50		52
Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB and UL secondary guarantee benefits
Unlock	[4]	2		(14)
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts [Abstract]
Reinsurance Recoverables on Paid Losses	[4]			$ 44
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment, Fair Value		41,524			44,786
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment, Fair Value		3,931			$ 4,066
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | UNITED STATES
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	[1],[2],[5]	$ 49,359
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	[2],[5]	69 years
Separate Accounts, Liability	[1],[2]	$ 45,455
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | JAPAN
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Separate Accounts, Liability	[1],[2]	86,022
Reset [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	[1],[2],[6]	$ 2,803
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	[2],[6]	70 years
Lifetime Income Benefit ("LIB") - Death Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	[1],[2],[7]	$ 576
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	[2],[7]	68 years
Asset Protection Benefit ("APB") [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	[1],[2],[8]	$ 13,461
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	[2],[8]	69 years
With Five Percent Rollup and EPB [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	[1],[2]	$ 530
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	[2]	72 years
With Earnings Protection Benefit Rider (EPB) [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	[1],[2],[9]	$ 4,125
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	[2],[9]	69 years
With Five Percent Rollup [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	[1],[2],[10]	$ 1,382
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	[2],[10]	70 years
MAV Only [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	[1],[2]	$ 15,974
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	[2]	70 years
Return of Net Deposit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	[1],[2],[11]	$ 10,508
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	[2],[11]	67 years
Return of Net Deposit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[11]	$ 56
Return of Net Deposit [Member] | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[11]	50
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | UNITED STATES
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[5]	3,719
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | Annuitization Benefit [Member] | UNITED STATES
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[5]	784
Reset [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[6]	12
Reset [Member] | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[6]	12
Lifetime Income Benefit ("LIB") - Death Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[7]	7
Lifetime Income Benefit ("LIB") - Death Benefit [Member] | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[7]	7
Asset Protection Benefit ("APB") [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[8]	234
Asset Protection Benefit ("APB") [Member] | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[8]	153
With Five Percent Rollup and EPB [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3]	113
With Five Percent Rollup and EPB [Member] | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3]	25
With Earnings Protection Benefit Rider (EPB) [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[9]	558
With Earnings Protection Benefit Rider (EPB) [Member] | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[9]	81
With Five Percent Rollup [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[10]	202
With Five Percent Rollup [Member] | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3],[10]	60
MAV Only [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3]	2,537
MAV Only [Member] | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	[2],[3]	$ 396

[1] AV includes the contract holder’s investment in the separate account and the general account.

[2] MAV GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid and the highest AV on any anniversary before age 80 years (adjusted for withdrawals).

[3] NAR is defined as the guaranteed benefit in excess of the current AV. RNAR represents NAR reduced for reinsurance. NAR and RNAR are highly sensitive to equity markets movements and increase when equity markets decline

[4] [1]These liability balances include all GMDB benefits, plus the life-contingent portion of GMWB benefits in excess of the return of the GRB. GMWB benefits up to the return of the GRB are embedded derivatives held at fair value and are excluded from these balances.

[5] Some variable annuity contracts with GMDB also have a life-contingent GMWB that may provide for benefits in excess of the return of the GRB. Such contracts included in this amount have $7.8 billion of total account value and weighted average attained age of 71 years. There is no NAR or retained NAR related to these contracts.

[6] Reset GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid and the most recent five to seven year anniversary AV before age 80 years (adjusted for withdrawals).

[7] LIB GMDB is the greatest of current AV; net premiums paid; or, for certain contracts, a benefit amount generally based on market performance that ratchets over time.

[8] APB GMDB is the greater of current AV or MAV, not to exceed current AV plus 25% times the greater of net premiums and MAV (each adjusted for premiums in the past 12 months).

[9] EPB GMDB is the greatest of the MAV, current AV, or contract value plus a percentage of the contract’s growth. The contract’s growth is AV less premiums net of withdrawals, subject to a cap of 200% of premiums net of withdrawals.

[10] Rollup GMDB is the greatest of the MAV, current AV, net premium paid and premiums (adjusted for withdrawals) accumulated at generally 5% simple interest up to the earlier of age 80 years or 100% of adjusted premiums.

[11] ROP GMDB is the greater of current AV or net premiums paid.