Reserve for Future Policy Benefits and SA Liabilities Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB and UL secondary guarantee benefits
Liability, balance, beginning of period	$ 14,000	$ 13,850
Incurred	811	821
Paid	(666)	(679)
Liability balance, end of period	14,280	14,411
Reinsurance recoverable asset, beginning of period	4,756	4,659
Reinsurance Recoverables on Unpaid Losses	(301)	(249)
Reinsurance Recoverables on Paid Losses	108	121
Reinsurance recoverable asset, end of period	4,949	4,787
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	18,781
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	2,817
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Separate Account Value	78,584
Separate Accounts, Liability	115,626		$ 115,665
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment, Fair Value	37,042		$ 36,925
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Other Liability Adjustments	$ 135	419
Invested in Fixed Income Securities	15.00%		16.00%
Invested in Equity Securities	85.00%		84.00%
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	$ 34,267		$ 33,880
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	2,775		$ 3,045
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member]
Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB and UL secondary guarantee benefits
Liability, balance, beginning of period	786	863
Incurred	57	50
Paid	(76)	(92)
Liability balance, end of period	767	821
Reinsurance recoverable asset, beginning of period	432	523
Reinsurance Recoverables on Unpaid Losses	(37)	(40)
Reinsurance Recoverables on Paid Losses	63	73
Reinsurance recoverable asset, end of period	406	490
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	$ 3,665
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	71 years
Separate Accounts, Liability	$ 37,042
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts [Abstract]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Other Liability Adjustments	0	0
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | Variable Annuity [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	40,707
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | Deferred Annuitization [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	1,700
Secondary Guarantees [Member] | Universal Life [Member]
Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB and UL secondary guarantee benefits
Liability, balance, beginning of period	2,627	2,313
Incurred	231	234
Liability balance, end of period	2,858	2,547
Reinsurance recoverable asset, beginning of period	2,627	2,313
Reinsurance Recoverables on Unpaid Losses	(231)	(234)
Reinsurance recoverable asset, end of period	2,858	2,547
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts [Abstract]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Other Liability Adjustments	0	0
Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB and UL secondary guarantee benefits
Liability, balance, beginning of period	10,587	10,674
Incurred	523	537
Paid	(590)	(587)
Liability balance, end of period	10,655	11,043
Reinsurance recoverable asset, beginning of period	1,697	1,823
Reinsurance Recoverables on Unpaid Losses	(33)	(25)
Reinsurance Recoverables on Paid Losses	45	48
Reinsurance recoverable asset, end of period	1,685	1,750
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	453
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts [Abstract]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Other Liability Adjustments	135	$ 419
Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	6,300
MAV only
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	$ 13,674
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	71 years
With 5% rollup [2]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	$ 1,149
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	72 years
With Earnings Protection Benefit Rider (“EPB”) [3]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	$ 3,482
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	71 years
With 5% rollup & EPB
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	$ 476
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	73 years
Asset Protection Benefit ("APB") [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	$ 10,175
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	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	$ 454
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	70 years
Reset [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	$ 2,445
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	70 years
Return of Premium [7] /Other
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, General Account Value	$ 8,852
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Weighted Average Attained Age	71 years
Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
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	73 years
MAV only
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	$ 2,047
MAV only | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	305
With 5% rollup [2]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	143
With 5% rollup [2] | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	45
With Earnings Protection Benefit Rider (“EPB”) [3]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	522
With Earnings Protection Benefit Rider (“EPB”) [3] | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	80
With 5% rollup & EPB
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	105
With 5% rollup & EPB | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	23
Asset Protection Benefit ("APB") [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	102
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	70
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	4
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	4
Reset [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	6
Reset [Member] | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	5
Return of Premium [7] /Other
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	55
Return of Premium [7] /Other | Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	52
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member]
Minimum Guarantees, Net Amount at Risk [Abstract]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	2,984
Guaranteed Minimum 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	$ 584