SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - REVISION OF PRIOR PERIOD FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - STATEMENT OF EQUITY AND CASH FLOWS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statements of Equity:
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable		$ (1)	$ 1,502	$ (172)					$ 1,328	$ 1,326	$ 2,860	$ 210	$ 662
Equity balance, end of year	$ 19,564	16,139	16,257	14,505	$ 14,604				16,257	16,139	19,564	14,604	15,587
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(76)	273	127					401	333	599	(215)	(861)
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	1,712	121	1,615	(54)	(1,144)	$ 175	$ 600	$ 1,075	1,559	1,679	3,394	706	1,060
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances		245	205	279					484	729	1,040	1,029	887
Net derivative (gains) losses		406	(1,762)	362					(1,398)	(992)	(890)	1,211	1,161
Changes in:
Deferred policy acquisition costs		(12)	(49)	29					(20)	(32)	268	52	(243)
Current and deferred income taxes				(188)					204		(664)	(742)	50
Other				177					84		189	(161)	(99)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities				18					(75)	994	1,077	(461)	(324)
Parent
Statements of Equity:
Equity balance, end of year	16,469	13,170	13,273	11,459	11,508				13,273	13,170	16,469	11,508	12,528
Total Equity, End of Period					14,604							14,604	15,587
Retained Earnings
Statements of Equity:
Retained earnings, beginning of year													6,990	$ 7,240
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable				(172)					1,328	1,326	2,860	210	662
Equity balance, end of year	9,010	7,476	7,479	5,978	6,150				7,479	7,476	9,010	6,150	6,990
Total Equity, End of Period					6,150							6,150
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to AXA Equitable
Statements of Equity:
Equity balance, end of year	$ 598	331	431	137	17				431	331	598	17	215
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Adjusted Balance					215							215	289
Other comprehensive income (loss)				120					414	314	$ 581	(198)	(846)
Total Equity, End of Period					17							17
As Previously Reported
Statements of Equity:
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable		(56)	1,346	(431)					915	1,324		57	667
Equity balance, end of year		15,959	17,608	15,969	14,445				17,608	15,959		14,445
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(52)	294	179					473	380		(229)	(857)
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income (loss)		66	1,459	(313)	(2,259)	$ 22	$ 1,061	$ 1,720	1,146	1,677		553	1,065
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances		350	321	337					658	1,008		1,079	973
Net derivative (gains) losses		318	(1,693)	724					(969)	(1,376)		1,163	1,075
Changes in:
Deferred policy acquisition costs		(33)	(82)	125					43	15		287	(254)
Current and deferred income taxes				(327)					(16)			(826)	49
Other				180					93			(161)	(92)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities				18					(75)	994		(461)	(324)
As Previously Reported | Parent
Statements of Equity:
Equity balance, end of year		12,990	14,635	12,934	11,349				14,635	12,990		11,349	12,536
Total Equity, End of Period					14,445							14,445	15,595
As Previously Reported | Retained Earnings
Statements of Equity:
Retained earnings, beginning of year													6,998	7,243
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable				(431)					915	1,324		57	667
Equity balance, end of year		7,265	8,779	7,411	6,005				8,779	7,265		6,005	6,998
Total Equity, End of Period					5,941							5,941
As Previously Reported | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to AXA Equitable
Statements of Equity:
Equity balance, end of year		362	$ 493	179	3				493	362		3	215
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Adjusted Balance					215							215	285
Other comprehensive income (loss)				$ 172					$ 486	361		(212)	(842)
Total Equity, End of Period					1							1
Impact of Adjustments
Statements of Equity:
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable		55								2		153	(5)
Equity balance, end of year		180			159					180		159
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(24)								(47)		14	(4)
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income (loss)		55								2		153	(5)
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances		(105)								(279)		(50)	(86)
Net derivative (gains) losses		88								384		48	86
Changes in:
Deferred policy acquisition costs		21								(47)		(235)	11
Current and deferred income taxes												84	1
Other												0	(7)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities										0		0	0
Impact of Adjustments | Parent
Statements of Equity:
Equity balance, end of year		180			159					180		159	(8)
Total Equity, End of Period					159							159	(8)
Impact of Adjustments | Retained Earnings
Statements of Equity:
Retained earnings, beginning of year													(8)	$ (3)
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable										2		153	(5)
Equity balance, end of year		211			145					211		145	(8)
Total Equity, End of Period					209							209
Impact of Adjustments | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to AXA Equitable
Statements of Equity:
Equity balance, end of year		$ (31)			14					(31)		14	0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Adjusted Balance					0							0	4
Other comprehensive income (loss)										$ (47)		14	$ (4)
Total Equity, End of Period					$ 16							$ 16