SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Summary of Adjustments on Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Deferred policy acquisition costs	$ 4,068	$ 4,215		$ 4,464
Amounts due from reinsurers	4,639	4,635		4,487
Guaranteed minimum income benefit reinsurance contract asset, at fair value	9,795	10,309		10,578
Other assets	4,423	4,260		4,647
Total Assets	209,098	203,678		194,663
Policyholders’ account balances	40,308	38,842		32,913
Future policy benefits and other policyholders’ liabilities	25,496	25,427		24,819
Current and deferred income taxes	3,523	3,742		4,657
Other liabilities	2,496	2,108		2,534
Total liabilities	192,712	187,000		177,144
Retained earnings	7,411	7,842		8,896
Total AXA Equitable’s equity	12,934	13,190		14,447
Noncontrolling interest	3,035	3,085		3,059
Equity	15,969	16,275	$ 19,906	17,506	$ 18,020
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 209,098	203,678		194,663
As previously reported
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Deferred policy acquisition costs		4,301		4,469
Amounts due from reinsurers		4,635		4,466
Guaranteed minimum income benefit reinsurance contract asset, at fair value		10,309		10,570
Other assets		4,260		4,634
Total Assets		203,764		194,626
Policyholders’ account balances		38,782		33,033
Future policy benefits and other policyholders’ liabilities		25,358		24,531
Current and deferred income taxes		3,816		4,647
Other liabilities		2,108		2,586
Total liabilities		186,945		177,018
Retained earnings		7,983		8,958
Total AXA Equitable’s equity		13,331		14,509
Noncontrolling interest		3,085		3,086
Equity		16,416	19,963	17,595	18,108
Total Liabilities and Equity		203,764		194,626
Adjustments
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Deferred policy acquisition costs		(86)		(5)
Amounts due from reinsurers		0		21
Guaranteed minimum income benefit reinsurance contract asset, at fair value		0		8
Other assets		0		13
Total Assets		(86)		37
Policyholders’ account balances		60		(120)
Future policy benefits and other policyholders’ liabilities		69		288
Current and deferred income taxes		(74)		10
Other liabilities		0		(52)
Total liabilities		55		126
Retained earnings		(141)		(62)
Total AXA Equitable’s equity		(141)		(62)
Noncontrolling interest		0		(27)
Equity		(141)	$ (57)	(89)	$ (88)
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ (86)		$ 37