Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	24. Subsequent Events Liberty Transaction On January 19, 2018, LNL and, for the limited purposes set forth therein, LNC, entered into a Master Transaction Agreement (the “Master Transaction Agreement”) with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (“LMIC”), Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company (collectively with LMIC, “Sellers”), for the limited purposes set forth therein, Liberty Mutual Group Inc. (“Liberty”), Protective Life Insurance Company (“Reinsurer”), and for the limited purposes set forth therein, Protective Life Corporation, to acquire all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston (“Liberty Life”), which currently operates Liberty’s Group Benefits Business (the “Liberty Group Business”) and Individual Life and Annuity Business (the “Liberty Life Business”), for cash consideration of approximately $3.3 billion (the “Liberty Transaction”). The consideration includes approximately $1.4 billion total net investment for the Liberty Group Business, including a purchase price of $1.0 billion and $425 million in required capital. The remaining components of the payment to Sellers include $410 million of individual life and annuity value paid by Reinsurer, $1.2 billion associated with excess capital in Liberty Life and $211 million of tax items. Additionally, pursuant to the Master Transaction Agreement, Liberty Life and Reinsurer agreed to enter into a reinsurance agreement (the “Reinsurance Agreement”) and related ancillary documents at the closing of the Liberty Transaction. On the terms and subject to the conditions of the Reinsurance Agreement, Liberty Life will cede to Reinsurer, effective as of the closing of the Liberty Transaction, the insurance policies relating to the Liberty Life Business. The aggregate statutory reserves of Liberty Life to be ceded to Reinsurer as of the closing of the Liberty Transaction are expected to be approximately $13 billion. To support its obligations under the Reinsurance Agreement, Reinsurer will establish a trust account for the benefit of LNL. The Liberty Transaction is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and the execution of the Reinsurance Agreement and related ancillary documents. LNL expects the Liberty Transaction to be completed in the second quarter of 2018, pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. We have requested regulatory approval for the Liberty Transaction and expect to receive such approval in due course. Senior Notes On February 12, 2018, we issued an additional $150 million aggregate principal of our outstanding 4.00% senior notes due 2023. Immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the new 2023 notes, we have $500 million in aggregate principle amount of the 2023 notes outstanding. In addition, on February 12, 2018, we issued $500 million aggregate principal of 3.80% senior notes due 2028 and $450 million aggregate principal of 4.35% senior notes due 2048.

24. Subsequent Events

Liberty Transaction

On January 19, 2018, LNL and, for the limited purposes set forth therein, LNC, entered into a Master Transaction Agreement (the “Master Transaction Agreement”) with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (“LMIC”), Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company (collectively with LMIC, “Sellers”), for the limited purposes set forth therein, Liberty Mutual Group Inc. (“Liberty”), Protective Life Insurance Company (“Reinsurer”), and for the limited purposes set forth therein, Protective Life Corporation, to acquire all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston (“Liberty Life”), which currently operates Liberty’s Group Benefits Business (the “Liberty Group Business”) and Individual Life and Annuity Business (the “Liberty Life Business”), for cash consideration of approximately $3.3 billion (the “Liberty Transaction”).

The consideration includes approximately $1.4 billion total net investment for the Liberty Group Business, including a purchase price of $1.0 billion and $425 million in required capital. The remaining components of the payment to Sellers include $410 million of individual life and annuity value paid by Reinsurer, $1.2 billion associated with excess capital in Liberty Life and $211 million of tax items.

Additionally, pursuant to the Master Transaction Agreement, Liberty Life and Reinsurer agreed to enter into a reinsurance agreement (the “Reinsurance Agreement”) and related ancillary documents at the closing of the Liberty Transaction. On the terms and subject to the conditions of the Reinsurance Agreement, Liberty Life will cede to Reinsurer, effective as of the closing of the Liberty Transaction, the insurance policies relating to the Liberty Life Business. The aggregate statutory reserves of Liberty Life to be ceded to Reinsurer as of the closing of the Liberty Transaction are expected to be approximately $13 billion. To support its obligations under the Reinsurance Agreement, Reinsurer will establish a trust account for the benefit of LNL.

The Liberty Transaction is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and the execution of the Reinsurance Agreement and related ancillary documents. LNL expects the Liberty Transaction to be completed in the second quarter of 2018, pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. We have requested regulatory approval for the Liberty Transaction and expect to receive such approval in due course.

Senior Notes

On February 12, 2018, we issued an additional $150 million aggregate principal of our outstanding 4.00% senior notes due 2023. Immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the new 2023 notes, we have $500 million in aggregate principle amount of the 2023 notes outstanding. In addition, on February 12, 2018, we issued $500 million aggregate principal of 3.80% senior notes due 2028 and $450 million aggregate principal of 4.35% senior notes due 2048.