DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jul. 18, 2018
Rollforward of deferred policy acquisition costs
Balance, beginning of year	$ 10,994	$ 11,042	$ 11,115
Acquisitions	298	0	0
Dispositions	0	(35)	(110)
Acquisition costs deferred	5,832	4,820	5,216
Amortization expense	(5,386)	(4,288)	(4,521)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities	1,063	(505)	(259)
Increase (decrease) due to foreign exchange and other	(107)	(40)	72
Reclassified to Assets held for sale	0	0	(471)
Balance, end of year	12,694	10,994	11,042
Value of business acquired
Amortization of VOBA	243	20	40
Unamortized balance of VOBA	$ 438	381	393
Percentage of unamortized balance of VOBA expected to be amortized in the next five years
Year one (as a percent)	8.60%
Year two (as a percent)	7.70%
Year three (as a percent)	6.70%
Year four (as a percent)	6.30%
Year five (as a percent)	6.00%
Years after five year (as a percent)	64.80%
Validus Holdings, Ltd
Value of business acquired
Unamortized balance of VOBA	$ 101			$ 298
Reportable Segments | Life insurance companies
Rollforward of deferred policy acquisition costs
Increase (decrease) in deferred policy acquisition costs due to net unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities	$ (1,000)	$ (1,300)	$ (842)