Related Party Transactions (Reinsurance by Counterparty) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 31, 2001	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		$ 30,853,161	$ 22,546,361
UPARC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		519,245	376,660
PAR U
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		10,207,953	9,797,733
PURC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		2,410,583	2,251,692
PARCC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		2,574,933	2,560,798
PAR Term
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		1,310,695	1,226,761
Term Re
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		457,306	298,002
Prudential Insurance
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		1,265,759	226,926
Pruco Re
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		0	4,594,412
Prudential of Taiwan
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		1,219,785	1,169,664
PALAC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		10,802,564	0
Unaffiliated
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		84,338	43,713
Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total reinsurance recoverables		$ 30,853,161	$ 22,546,361
Affiliated Entity | Prudential of Taiwan
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Term	2 years