Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Common Stock Held in Treasury [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 24,676	$ 4	$ 3,595	$ 15,192	$ 678	$ (10)	$ 5,217
Net income	1,069			595			474
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(378)				(341)		(37)
Dividends paid	(597)			(97)
Dividends paid							(500)
Issuance of equity securities by subsidiary	337		51		2		284
Purchases of Loews treasury stock	(218)					(218)
Retirement of treasury stock			(48)	(180)		228
Issuance of Loews common stock	5		5
Stock-based compensation	18		3				15
Other	(6)		1	(2)			(5)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	24,906	4	3,607	15,508	339		5,448
Net income	962			591			371
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(69)				(59)		(10)
Dividends paid	(433)			(95)
Dividends paid							(338)
Purchases of subsidiary stock from noncontrolling interests	(144)		(9)				(135)
Purchases of Loews treasury stock	(622)					(622)
Retirement of treasury stock			(136)	(486)		622
Issuance of Loews common stock	6		6
Stock-based compensation	26		13				13
Other	18			(3)			21
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	24,650	4	3,481	15,515	280		5,370
Net income	287			260			27
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(718)				(638)		(80)
Dividends paid	(255)			(90)
Dividends paid							(165)
Issuance of equity securities by subsidiary	115		(2)		1		116
Purchases of subsidiary stock from noncontrolling interests	(31)		5				(36)
Purchases of Loews treasury stock	(1,265)					(1,265)
Retirement of treasury stock		(1)	(311)	(953)		$ 1,265
Issuance of Loews common stock	7		7
Stock-based compensation	26		23				3
Other	(6)		(19)	(1)			14
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 22,810	$ 3	$ 3,184	$ 14,731	$ (357)		$ 5,249