ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (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	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Equity	$ 16,139	$ 16,257	$ 14,505	$ 16,257	$ 16,139	$ 19,564	$ 14,604	$ 15,587
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes	(76)	273	127	401	333	599	(215)	(861)
Change in unrealized gains (losses), net of adjustments (net of deferred income tax expense (benefit) of $(244) million, $(97) million, and $(454) million)	(79)	293	92	386	315	563	(194)	(832)
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Equity						617	54	248
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax						741	(160)	(1,020)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax						8	2	12
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes						749	(158)	(1,008)
Adjustments for policyholders’ liabilities, DAC, insurance liability loss recognition and other						(186)	(36)	176
Change in unrealized gains (losses), net of adjustments (net of deferred income tax expense (benefit) of $(244) million, $(97) million, and $(454) million)						563	(194)	(832)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax, Parenthetical Disclosures [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income (loss), income tax expense (benefit)						(244)	(97)	(454)
Reclassifications from AOCI, income tax expense (benefit)						(5)	(1)	(6)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Equity						(36)	(77)	(59)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax						41	(18)	(25)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax						0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes						41	(18)	(25)
Defined benefit pension plans
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Equity						(51)	(46)	(43)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes						(5)	(3)	(4)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax, Parenthetical Disclosures [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income (loss), income tax expense (benefit)						(2)	(2)	(2)
Gains/losses
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax						0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax						(5)	(3)	(4)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax, Parenthetical Disclosures [Abstract]
Reclassifications from AOCI, income tax expense (benefit)						2	2	2
Prior service cost/credit
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax						0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax						0	0	0
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Equity						530	(69)	146
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Equity						68	86	69
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes						(18)	17	15
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to AXA Equitable
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Equity	$ 331	$ 431	137	431	331	598	17	215	$ 289
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes			$ 120	$ 414	$ 314	$ 581	$ (198)	$ (846)