SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details - Continuing operations by operating segment - Pretax operating income to pre-tax income)) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Reconciling items to revenues and pre-tax income (loss):
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt	$ (3)	$ 1	$ 5	$ 4	$ (1)	$ 1	$ (4)	$ (1)	$ (7)	$ 5	$ (74)
Income (loss) from divested businesses	(3)	(2)	(25)	(8)	(241)	13	60	100	38	68	545
Net reserve discount benefit (charge)									371	(187)	422
Restructuring and other costs	136	35	200	24	154	31	47	181
Adjusted pre-tax income (loss)	$ (695)	$ (1,527)	$ 1,252	$ 1,227	$ 875	$ (2,803)	$ 1,667	$ 1,727	257	1,466	(74)
Reconciling items from adjusted pre-tax income to pre-tax income | Total Revenues
Reconciling items to revenues and pre-tax income (loss):
Changes in fair values of securities used to hedge guaranteed living benefits									(128)	146	120
Changes in benefit reserves and DAC, VOBA and SIA related to net realized capital gains									0	0	0
Other income (expense) - net									(53)	(49)	(44)
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt									0	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses)									(254)	(1,380)	(1,944)
Income (loss) from divested businesses									0	0	0
Non-operating litigation reserves and settlements									11	27	44
Prior Year Development And Change In Amortization Of Deferred Gain On Retroactive Reinsurance									0	0	0
Net reserve discount benefit (charge)									0	0	0
Pension expense related to a one-time lump sum payment to former employees									0	0	0
Integration and transaction costs associated with acquired business									0
Restructuring and other costs									0	0	0
Reconciling items from adjusted pre-tax income to pre-tax income | Net investment income
Reconciling items to revenues and pre-tax income (loss):
Changes in fair values of securities used to hedge guaranteed living benefits									(128)	146	120
Changes in benefit reserves and DAC, VOBA and SIA related to net realized capital gains									0	0	0
Other income (expense) - net									0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt									0	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses)									(124)	0	0
Income (loss) from divested businesses									0	0	0
Non-operating litigation reserves and settlements									0	0	0
Prior Year Development And Change In Amortization Of Deferred Gain On Retroactive Reinsurance									0	0	0
Net reserve discount benefit (charge)									0	0	0
Pension expense related to a one-time lump sum payment to former employees									0	0	0
Integration and transaction costs associated with acquired business									0
Restructuring and other costs									0	0	0
Reconciling items from adjusted pre-tax income to pre-tax income | Interest expense
Reconciling items to revenues and pre-tax income (loss):
Changes in fair values of securities used to hedge guaranteed living benefits									0	0	0
Changes in benefit reserves and DAC, VOBA and SIA related to net realized capital gains									0	0	0
Other income (expense) - net									0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt									0	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses)									(34)	0	0
Income (loss) from divested businesses									0	0	0
Non-operating litigation reserves and settlements									0	0	0
Prior Year Development And Change In Amortization Of Deferred Gain On Retroactive Reinsurance									0	0	0
Net reserve discount benefit (charge)									0	0	0
Pension expense related to a one-time lump sum payment to former employees									0	0	0
Integration and transaction costs associated with acquired business									0
Restructuring and other costs									0	0	0
Reconciling items from adjusted pre-tax income to pre-tax income | Amortization of DAC
Reconciling items to revenues and pre-tax income (loss):
Changes in fair values of securities used to hedge guaranteed living benefits									0	0	0
Changes in benefit reserves and DAC, VOBA and SIA related to net realized capital gains									(5)	(291)	(276)
Other income (expense) - net									0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt									0	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses)									0	0	0
Income (loss) from divested businesses									0	0	0
Non-operating litigation reserves and settlements									0	0	0
Prior Year Development And Change In Amortization Of Deferred Gain On Retroactive Reinsurance									0	0	0
Net reserve discount benefit (charge)									0	0	0
Pension expense related to a one-time lump sum payment to former employees									0	0	0
Integration and transaction costs associated with acquired business									0
Restructuring and other costs									0	0	0
Reconciling items from adjusted pre-tax income to pre-tax income | Adjusted Pre-Tax Income (loss)
Reconciling items to revenues and pre-tax income (loss):
Changes in fair values of securities used to hedge guaranteed living benefits									(154)	146	120
Changes in benefit reserves and DAC, VOBA and SIA related to net realized capital gains									6	303	195
Other income (expense) - net									0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt									(7)	5	(74)
Net realized capital gains (losses)									(193)	(1,380)	(1,944)
Income (loss) from divested businesses									38	68	545
Non-operating litigation reserves and settlements									(19)	129	41
Prior Year Development And Change In Amortization Of Deferred Gain On Retroactive Reinsurance									(675)	(303)	42
Net reserve discount benefit (charge)									371	(187)	427
Pension expense related to a one-time lump sum payment to former employees									0	(60)	(147)
Integration and transaction costs associated with acquired business									(124)
Restructuring and other costs									$ (395)	$ (413)	$ (694)