DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - Income Statement Disclosures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net derivative gains (losses)		$ (285)	$ (1,733)	$ (1,100)
Net investment income (loss)	$ 879	542	1,783	1,051
Investment management and service fees	255	260	503	514
Other income	30	9	40	31
Total revenues	2,071	1,621	2,761	2,760
Compensation and benefits	85	74	167	223
Distribution-related payments	152	159	309	319
Interest expense	0	9	4	18
Other operating costs and expenses	216	2,313	400	2,563
Total benefits and other deductions	1,753	4,278	3,433	5,790
Net income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	21	0	50
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(1)	0	(3)	1
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable	$ 264	(2,084)	$ (566)	(2,347)
Alliance Bernstein | Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net derivative gains (losses)		0		2
Net investment income (loss)		6		45
Investment management and service fees		817		1,620
Other income		1		3
Total revenues		824		1,670
Compensation and benefits		360		704
Distribution-related payments		106		216
Interest expense		2		4
Other operating costs and expenses		171		360
Total benefits and other deductions		639		1,284
Income from discontinued operations, before income taxes		185		386
Income tax expense		(8)		(25)
Net income from discontinued operations, net of taxes		177		361
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest		(156)		(311)
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable		$ 21		$ 50