Investment Holding Level 4 Net Realized Capital Gains (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gains	$ 114,000,000	$ 83,000,000	$ 328,000,000	$ 401,000,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Losses	24,000,000	73,000,000	157,000,000	333,000,000
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net	14,000,000	40,000,000	44,000,000	63,000,000
Periodic Net Coupon Settlements on Credit Derivatives	2,000,000	3,000,000	2,000,000	8,000,000
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	(58,000,000)	19,000,000	(106,000,000)	(11,000,000)
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)	(17,000,000)	(44,000,000)	(119,000,000)	(30,000,000)
HFPI estimated tax benefit on disposition	65,000,000
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Disposition of Business, Amount	(50,000,000)	0	(50,000,000)	0
HFPI estimated after tax gain	6,000,000
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Realized	(19,000,000)	(17,000,000)	(150,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Gain (Loss) on Investments, Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments	(3,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(75,000,000)	33,000,000
Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities	4,300,000,000	4,500,000,000	13,300,000,000	16,300,000,000
UNITED KINGDOM
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	59,000,000		0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	(35,000,000)	6,000,000	(22,000,000)	(40,000,000)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | UNITED KINGDOM
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	18,000,000	8,000,000	135,000,000	(23,000,000)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments, Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments	77,000,000	(29,000,000)	128,000,000	14,000,000
Mortgages [Member]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Adjustments	0	(1,000,000)	0	2,000,000
GMWB Derivatives, Net [Member]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	6,000,000	(32,000,000)	(8,000,000)	(35,000,000)
Macro Hedge Program [Member]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	(64,000,000)	51,000,000	(98,000,000)	24,000,000
Other Investments [Member]
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)	$ (37,000,000)	$ (37,000,000)	$ (142,000,000)	$ (30,000,000)