Derivative Instruments Level 4 Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 41,099	$ 46,241
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(475)	(530)
Invested Assets Suppoting Modco		895
Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	0	23
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	(138)	(97)	$ 723
Derivative, Notional Amount	39,141	44,309
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(466)	(549)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	(201)	(133)	(132)
International Program Hedging Instruments [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	0	0	(126)
JAPAN
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	0	0	(126)
Three Win Related Foreign Currency Swaps [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	804	1,063
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(263)	(357)
Three Win Related Foreign Currency Swaps [Member] | JAPAN
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	0	0	(14)
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	(18)	(7)	(6)
Derivative, Notional Amount	2,774	4,710
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(411)	(415)
Swap [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	5,191	5,877
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	100	131
Equity Contract [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	1,362	1,362
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(27)	2
Equity Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	30	19	7
Derivative, Notional Amount	100	404
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	0	15
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	2,700	4,600
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	21	25
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	3,703	3,740
GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	10,256	10,979
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	94	158
GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	(112)	(45)	3
Derivative, Notional Amount	10,256	10,979
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	94	158
Macro Hedge Program [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	(163)	(46)	(11)
Derivative, Notional Amount	6,532	4,548
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	178	147
Fixed Annuity Hedging Instruments [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	25	(21)	(148)
GMWB Product Derivatives [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	88	(59)	(2)
Derivative, Notional Amount	13,114	15,099
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(241)	(262)
GMWB Product Derivatives [Member] | JAPAN | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	0	0	22
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	57	(16)	(122)
GMWB Reinsurance [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	(14)	17	4
Derivative, Notional Amount	2,709	3,106
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	73	83
Other Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	(12)	46	395
Foreign Exchange Option [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	0	0	(2)
Commodity Option [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	0	(5)	0
Put Option [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	0	0	579
Credit Default Swap, Buying Protection [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	(9)	3	(6)
Credit Default Swap, Selling Protection [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	961	2,153
Credit Default Swap, Selling Protection [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	15	(4)	10
Other Credit Derivatives [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	(12)	46	972
Currency Swap [Member] | Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	$ 32	$ 5	$ 4