INVESTMENTS (DERIVATIVES BY CATEGORY) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 57,881
Fair Value Assets Derivatives	14,080
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	8,917
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)	1,376
Other Accrued Liabilities, Current	7
Equity Futures
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	3,858		$ 5,086
Fair Value Assets Derivatives	1		1
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	1		1
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)	(512)	$ (581)
Equity Swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	4,289		3,529
Fair Value Assets Derivatives	0		13
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	162		67
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)	(596)	(193)
Equity Option
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	16,294		11,465
Fair Value Assets Derivatives	2,760		2,114
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	1,243		1,154
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)	831	435
Floors
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	0		1,500
Fair Value Assets Derivatives	0		11
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	0		0
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)	0	4
Interest Rate Swap
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	19,889		18,933
Fair Value Assets Derivatives	272		246
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	243		1,163
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)	523	1,460
Interest rate contracts Futures
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	9,133		6,926
Fair Value Assets Derivatives	0		0
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	0		0
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)	28	(23)
Interest Rate Swaption
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount			0
Fair Value Assets Derivatives			0
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives			0
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)		0
Credit Default Swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	3,156		2,757
Fair Value Assets Derivatives	35		20
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	5		15
Net Amounts Of Liabilities Presented In Statement Of Financial Position	0
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)	16	9
Cross currency swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	1,262
Fair Value Assets Derivatives	17
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	9
Net Amounts Of Liabilities Presented In Statement Of Financial Position	0
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)	(40)
Margin
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value Assets Derivatives	46		113
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	0		6
Net Amounts Of Liabilities Presented In Statement Of Financial Position	0		0
Collateralized Securities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value Assets Derivatives	16		713
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	1,442		748
Net Amounts Of Liabilities Presented In Statement Of Financial Position	0
Currency Contracts
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount			730
Fair Value Assets Derivatives			52
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives			6
Net Amounts Of Liabilities Presented In Statement Of Financial Position			0
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)		(13)
GMIB Reinsurance
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value Assets Derivatives	10,933		10,309
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)	537	2,576
GMxB derivative features’ liability
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	4,375		5,289
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)	1,151	(1,712)
SCS, SIO, MSO and IUL indexed features’ liability
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value Liabilities Derivatives	1,437		$ 875
Gains (losses) included in net earnings (loss)	$ (562)	$ (341)