Variable Interest Entities (Details) (Variable interests in affordable housing partnerships, RTA, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Variable interests in affordable housing partnerships \| RTA
Variable Interest Entities
Carrying values of investments reflected in other investments	$ 410	$ 409
Obligation to provide financial or other support to the affordable housing partnerships	0
Liabilities related to the future funding commitments recorded in other liabilities	$ 123	$ 144

Represents the carrying amount of the obligation to provide financial or other support in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), where the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rsl_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedObligationToProvideFinancialOrOtherSupport
Namespace Prefix:	rsl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount of the assets in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), where the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph a

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880789&loc=d3e5728-111685

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of the liabilities in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), where the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant