REVISION OF PRIOR PERIOD FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
REVENUES
Policy charges and fee income	$ 853	$ 824	$ 905	$ 899	$ 863	$ 857	$ 1,729	$ 1,720	$ 2,582	$ 2,619	$ 3,487	$ 3,515	$ 3,289
Net derivative gains (losses)		(5,908)	9,532	(343)	(179)	(1,558)	3,624	(1,737)	2,097	(2,080)	(3,831)	(1,034)	854
Net derivative gains (losses)													878
Net investment income (loss)	809	921	604	744		904	1,525		2,334	2,527
Other income	18	10	15	(1)		10	25		43	39	56	64
Total Revenues	603	(3,574)	11,599	1,990	2,068	685	8,025	2,753	8,628	4,743	5,174	6,918	8,435
BENEFITS AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS
Policyholders’ benefits	950	691	2,626	1,642	861	853	3,317	1,714	4,267	3,356	4,088	2,960	3,481
Interest credited to policyholder's account balances	277		289	296	291	272		563	845	859	1,149	979
Commissions	153			153					462	462	629	625	635
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	119	149	1,022	54	142	149	1,171	291	1,290	345	520	451	925
Other operating costs and expenses	221	218	214	214		184	432		653	614	912	2,919
Total benefits and other deductions	1,796	1,539	4,392	2,429	1,747	1,701	5,931	3,448	7,727	5,877	7,637	8,390	6,947
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes	(1,193)	(5,113)	7,207	(439)	321	(1,016)	2,094	(695)	901	(1,134)	(2,463)	(1,472)	1,488
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations	249	1,027	(1,457)	175	(53)	167	(430)	114	(181)	289	579	456	1,218
Net income (loss) from continuing operations													2,706
Net income (loss)	(944)	(4,086)	5,750	(264)	268	(849)	1,664	(581)	720	(845)	(1,884)	(902)	2,791
Net income (loss) attributable to Equitable Financial	$ (946)	(4,090)	5,757	(264)	267	(851)	1,667	(584)	$ 721	(848)	(1,889)	(899)	2,790
As Previously Reported
REVENUES
Policy charges and fee income		825	904	853	865	859	1,729	1,724		2,577	3,450	3,523	3,294
Net derivative gains (losses)		(5,903)	9,533	(342)	(178)	(1,555)	3,630	(1,733)		(2,075)	(3,820)	(1,010)	870
Net derivative gains (losses)													894
Net investment income (loss)		934	591			904	1,525
Other income		8	17	0		10	25			40	56	65
Total Revenues		(3,557)	11,588	1,946	2,071	690	8,031	2,761		4,707	5,148	6,951	8,456
BENEFITS AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS
Policyholders’ benefits		700	2,597	1,634	868	819	3,297	1,687		3,321	4,119	3,005	3,473
Interest credited to policyholder's account balances			289	280	288	269		557		837	1,127	1,002
Commissions											629	620	628
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		164	1,058	32	144	165	1,222	309		341	452	431	900
Other operating costs and expenses		218	213			184	431				912	2,918
Total benefits and other deductions		1,563	4,398	2,383	1,753	1,680	5,961	3,433		5,816	7,578	8,432	6,907
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes		(5,120)	7,190	(437)	318	(990)	2,070	(672)		(1,109)	(2,430)	(1,481)	1,549
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations		1,029	(1,454)	175	(53)	162	(425)	109		284	584	446	1,210
Net income (loss) from continuing operations													2,759
Net income (loss)		(4,091)	5,736	(262)	265	(828)	1,645	(563)		(825)	(1,846)	(921)	2,844
Net income (loss) attributable to Equitable Financial		(4,095)	5,743	(262)	264	(830)	1,648	(566)		(828)	(1,851)	(918)	2,843
Impact of Revisions
REVENUES
Policy charges and fee income		(1)	1	46	(2)	(2)	0	(4)		42	37	(8)	(5)
Net derivative gains (losses)		(5)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(3)	(6)	(4)		(5)	(11)	(24)	(16)
Net derivative gains (losses)													(16)
Net investment income (loss)		(13)	13			0	0
Other income		2	(2)	(1)		0	0			(1)	0	(1)
Total Revenues		(17)	11	44	(3)	(5)	(6)	(8)		36	26	(33)	(21)
BENEFITS AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS
Policyholders’ benefits		(9)	29	8	(7)	34	20	27		35	(31)	(45)	8
Interest credited to policyholder's account balances			0	16	3	3		6		22	22	(23)
Commissions											0	5	7
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		(15)	(36)	22	(2)	(16)	(51)	(18)		4	68	20	25
Other operating costs and expenses		0	1			0	1				0	1
Total benefits and other deductions		(24)	(6)	46	(6)	21	(30)	15		61	59	(42)	40
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes		7	17	(2)	3	(26)	24	(23)		(25)	(33)	9	(61)
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations		(2)	(3)	0	0	5	(5)	5		5	(5)	10	8
Net income (loss) from continuing operations													(53)
Net income (loss)		5	14	(2)	3	(21)	19	(18)		(20)	(38)	19	(53)
Net income (loss) attributable to Equitable Financial		$ 5	$ 14	$ (2)	$ 3	$ (21)	$ 19	$ (18)		$ (20)	$ (38)	$ 19	$ (53)