SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Schedule of Restatements made to the Consolidated Statements of Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Derivative, Non-cash Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net										$ 1,621	$ (305)	$ (1,072)	$ 3,418
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs			$ (127)			$ (31)	$ (50)	$ (9)	$ (15)	(64)	(368)	257	345
Other operating costs and expenses	$ 449			$ 319					992	1,070
Change in unrealized gains (losses), net of reclassification adjustment	(55)	$ 315	108	16	$ 610	717	423	1,327	362	1,342	(180)	(831)	891
Beginning of year	11,100	14,227	14,379	17,744	17,183	15,530	14,379	15,530	14,379	15,530	15,530	16,387
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(52)	295	143	15	605	726	438	1,331	380	1,345	(201)	(860)	847
Net income (loss)	66	1,714	(120)	137	576	1,067	1,593	1,642	1,677	1,779	524	1,070	3,100
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(140)	1,916	(102)	25	1,093	1,673	2,031	2,765	1,685	2,789	(156)	(178)	3,589
End of year	15,959	11,100	14,227	17,764	17,744	17,183	11,100	17,744	15,959	17,764	14,379	15,530	16,387
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised		16,109		17,766	17,744	17,182	16,109	17,744		17,766
Additional Paid-in Capital
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year			5,339			5,321	5,339	5,321	5,339	5,321	5,321
Deferred tax on dividend of AB Units									0
End of year	5,361			5,313					5,361	5,313	5,339	5,321
Retained Earnings
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Revised and Adjusted											5,938	6,963
Beginning of year	7,301	5,700	5,941	7,897	7,913	8,896	5,941	8,896	5,941	8,896	8,896
Dividends									0	500	(1,050)	(912)	(381)
Net income (loss)			(238)			950	1,362	1,434		1,445	28	667	2,713
End of year	7,265	7,301	5,700	7,908	7,897	7,913	7,301	7,897	7,265	7,908	5,941	8,896
AOCI Attributable to Parent
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year	452	137	1	1,516	908	208	1	208	1	208	208
Other comprehensive income (loss)			136			723	451	1,331	361	1,344	(184)	(845)	876
End of year	362	452	137	1,529	1,516	908	452	1,516	362	1,529	1	208
Parent
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year	13,116	11,181	11,283	14,733	14,140	12,471	11,283	12,471	11,283	12,471	12,471	13,425
End of year	12,990	13,116	11,181	14,752	14,733	14,140	13,116	14,733	12,990	14,752	11,283	12,471	13,425
Noncontrolling Interest
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year			(3,096)			(3,059)	(3,096)	(3,059)	(3,096)	(3,059)	(3,059)
Other comprehensive income (loss)									19	1
Dividends									347	287
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									311	326
End of year	2,969			3,012					2,969	3,012	(3,096)	(3,059)
As previously reported
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised, Adjusted			15,969			19,963
Derivative, Non-cash Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net											(462)	(208)	5,409
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs			(125)			10	(43)	84		80	(162)	331	413
Other operating costs and expenses											1,458	1,415	1,692
Change in unrealized gains (losses), net of reclassification adjustment			144	(22)	625	780		1,405		1,383	(217)	(881)	969
Beginning of year	12,608	15,969	16,416	21,013	19,963	17,595	16,416	17,595	16,416	17,595	17,595	18,108
Other comprehensive income (loss)			179	(23)	620	789		1,409		1,386	(238)	(910)	925
Net income (loss)		1,459	(313)	22	1,061	1,720	1,146	2,781		2,803	544	1,464	4,420
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent		1,660	(259)	(100)	1,592	2,389	1,619	3,981		3,881	(146)	166	4,987
End of year		12,608	15,969	20,883	21,013	19,963	12,608	21,013		20,883	16,416	17,595	18,108
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised		17,617			21,013		17,617	21,013
As previously reported | Additional Paid-in Capital
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year			5,339			5,321	5,339	5,321	5,339	5,321	5,321	5,957	5,934
Deferred tax on dividend of AB Units											0	(35)	(26)
End of year											5,339	5,321	5,957
As previously reported | Retained Earnings
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Revised and Adjusted											7,842	8,958
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised, Adjusted											7,983
Beginning of year	8,779	7,411		11,030	10,561	8,958		8,958		8,958	8,958	8,809	5,205
Dividends											(1,050)	(912)	(429)
Net income (loss)			(431)			1,603	915	2,572		2,496	75	1,061	4,033
End of year		8,779	7,411	10,954	11,030	10,561	8,779	11,030		10,954		8,958	8,809
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised											7,983	8,958	8,809
As previously reported | AOCI Attributable to Parent
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year	493		7	1,637		228	7	228	7	228	228	351	(603)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			172			786	486	1,409		1,385	(221)	(895)	954
End of year		493			1,637		493	1,637			7	228	351
As previously reported | Parent
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year	14,635	12,934	13,331	17,987	16,894	14,509	13,331	14,509	13,331	14,509	14,509	15,119
End of year		14,635	12,934	17,882	17,987	16,894	14,635	17,987		17,882	13,331	14,509	15,119
As previously reported | Noncontrolling Interest
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year	0	3,035	3,085	3,026	3,069	3,086	3,085	3,086	3,085	3,086	3,086	2,989	2,903
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			118			117	118	203		299	464	403	387
Dividend of AB Units by AXA Equitable to AXA Financial											0	145	48
End of year		0	3,035	3,001	3,026	3,069	0	3,026		3,001	3,085	3,086	2,989
Other Changes In Noncontrolling Interest											104	132	143
Impact of Revision
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised, Adjusted			(53)			(87)
Derivative, Non-cash Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net											43	(131)	(168)
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs			0			(32)	(3)	(75)		(118)	(171)	(13)	(34)
Other operating costs and expenses											0	82	(24)
Change in unrealized gains (losses), net of reclassification adjustment			0	30	(15)	6		(9)		20	20	(20)	0
Beginning of year	(84)	(53)	(192)	(110)		(109)	(192)	(109)	(192)	(109)	(109)	(100)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			0	30	(15)	6		(9)		20	20	(20)	0
Net income (loss)		(9)	1	11	(21)	16	(9)	(5)		6	(114)	11	(139)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent		(9)	1	13	(35)	22	(9)	(13)		(1)	(121)	(9)	(139)
End of year		(84)	(53)	(72)	(110)		(84)	(110)		(72)	(192)	(109)	(100)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised		(84)			(110)	(86)	(84)	(110)
Impact of Revision | Additional Paid-in Capital
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year			0			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(26)
Deferred tax on dividend of AB Units											0	0	26
End of year											0	0	0
Impact of Revision | Retained Earnings
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Revised and Adjusted			(65)									(62)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised, Adjusted											(86)
Beginning of year	(95)	(64)	(203)	(66)	(46)	(62)	(203)	(62)	(203)	(62)	(62)	(73)	18
Other comprehensive income (loss)													0
Dividends											0	0	48
Net income (loss)			1			16	(9)	(4)		(21)	(141)	11
End of year		(95)	(64)	(83)	(66)	(46)	(95)	(66)		(83)	(203)	(62)	(73)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised												(62)	(73)
Impact of Revision | AOCI Attributable to Parent
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year	0	0	0	(29)		(20)	0	(20)	0	(20)	(20)	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)			0			6	0	(9)		20	20	(20)
End of year		0	0		(29)		0	(29)			0	(20)	0
Impact of Revision | Parent
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year	(95)	(64)	(203)	(95)	(60)	(82)	(203)	(82)	(203)	(82)	(82)	(73)
End of year		(95)	(64)	(83)	(95)	(60)	(95)	(95)		(83)	(203)	(82)	(73)
Impact of Revision | Noncontrolling Interest
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year	11	11	11	(15)	(27)	(27)	11	(27)	11	(27)	(27)	(27)	21
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			0			0	0	1		27	27	0	0
Dividend of AB Units by AXA Equitable to AXA Financial											0	0	(48)
End of year		11	11	11	(15)	(27)	11	(15)		11	11	(27)	(27)
Other Changes In Noncontrolling Interest											11	0	0
As Revised
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised, Adjusted			15,916			19,876
Derivative, Non-cash Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net										3,249	(419)	(339)	5,241
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs			(125)			(22)	(46)	9		(38)	(333)	318	379
Other operating costs and expenses											1,458	1,497	1,668
Change in unrealized gains (losses), net of reclassification adjustment		314	144	8	610	786	458	1,396		1,403	(197)	(901)	969
Beginning of year	12,524	15,916	16,224	20,903	19,877	17,486	16,224	17,486	16,224	17,486	17,486	18,008
Other comprehensive income (loss)		294	179	7	605	795	473	1,400		1,406	(218)	(930)	925
Net income (loss)		1,450	(312)	33	1,040	1,736	1,137	2,776		2,809	430	1,475	4,281
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent		1,651	(258)	(87)	1,557	2,411	1,610	3,968		3,880	(267)	157	4,848
End of year		12,524	15,916	20,811	20,903	19,877	12,524	20,903		20,811	16,224	17,486	18,008
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised		17,533		20,811	20,903	19,876	17,533	20,903		20,811
As Revised | Additional Paid-in Capital
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year			5,339			5,321	5,339	5,321	5,339	5,321	5,321	5,957	5,908
Deferred tax on dividend of AB Units											0	(35)	0
End of year											5,339	5,321	5,957
As Revised | Retained Earnings
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Revised and Adjusted											7,777	8,896
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised, Adjusted											7,897
Beginning of year	8,684	7,347	7,780	10,964	10,515	8,896	7,780	8,896	7,780	8,896	8,896	8,736	5,223
Dividends											(1,050)	(912)	(381)
Net income (loss)			(430)			1,619	906	2,568		2,475	(66)	1,072	3,894
End of year		8,684	7,347	10,871	10,964	10,515	8,684	10,964		10,871	7,780	8,896	8,736
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, As Revised												8,896	8,736
As Revised | AOCI Attributable to Parent
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year	493	179	7	1,608	1,000	208	7	208	7	208	208	351	(603)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			172			792	486	1,400		1,405	(201)	(915)	954
End of year		493	179	1,613	1,608	1,000	493	1,608		1,613	7	208	351
As Revised | Parent
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year	14,540	12,870	13,128	17,892	16,834	14,427	13,128	14,427	13,128	14,427	14,427	15,046
End of year		14,540	12,870	17,799	17,892	16,834	14,540	17,892		17,799	13,128	14,427	15,046
As Revised | Noncontrolling Interest
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Beginning of year	$ 11	3,046	3,096	3,011	3,042	3,059	3,096	3,059	$ 3,096	3,059	3,059	2,962	2,924
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			118			117	118	204		326	491	403	387
Dividend of AB Units by AXA Equitable to AXA Financial											0	145	0
End of year		$ 11	$ 3,046	$ 3,012	$ 3,011	$ 3,042	$ 11	$ 3,011		$ 3,012	3,096	3,059	2,962
Other Changes In Noncontrolling Interest											$ 115	$ 132	$ 143