Investments and Derivative Instruments (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 78,931	$ 79,432
Gross Unrealized Gains	5,126	2,896
Gross Unrealized Losses	(2,722)	(3,496)
Fair Value	81,252	78,793
Non-Credit OTTI	(205)	(210)
ABS [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost or Amortized Cost	3,743	3,247
Gross Unrealized Gains	81	38
Gross Unrealized Losses	(320)	(396)
Fair Value	3,504	2,889
Non-Credit OTTI	(7)	(2)
CDOs [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost or Amortized Cost	2,851	3,088
Gross Unrealized Gains	1	1
Gross Unrealized Losses	(387)	(478)
Fair Value	2,465	2,611
Non-Credit OTTI	(50)	(82)
CMBS [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost or Amortized Cost	7,252	8,297
Gross Unrealized Gains	242	235
Gross Unrealized Losses	(534)	(615)
Fair Value	6,960	7,917
Non-Credit OTTI	(27)	(9)
Corporate [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost or Amortized Cost	40,659	38,496
Gross Unrealized Gains	3,487	2,174
Gross Unrealized Losses	(747)	(747)
Fair Value	43,316	39,884
Non-Credit OTTI	0	7
Foreign govt./govt. agencies [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost or Amortized Cost	1,836	1,627
Gross Unrealized Gains	121	73
Gross Unrealized Losses	(13)	(17)
Fair Value	1,944	1,683
Non-Credit OTTI	0	0
Municipal [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost or Amortized Cost	12,578	12,469
Gross Unrealized Gains	656	150
Gross Unrealized Losses	(70)	(495)
Fair Value	13,164	12,124
Non-Credit OTTI	0	0
RMBS [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost or Amortized Cost	5,566	6,036
Gross Unrealized Gains	222	109
Gross Unrealized Losses	(452)	(462)
Fair Value	5,336	5,683
Non-Credit OTTI	(121)	(124)
U.S. Treasuries [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost or Amortized Cost	3,353	5,159
Gross Unrealized Gains	224	24
Gross Unrealized Losses	(3)	(154)
Fair Value	3,574	5,029
Non-Credit OTTI	0	0
Fixed maturities, AFS [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost or Amortized Cost	77,838	78,419
Gross Unrealized Gains	5,034	2,804
Gross Unrealized Losses	(2,526)	(3,364)
Fair Value	80,263	77,820
Non-Credit OTTI	(205)	(210)
Equity securities, AFS [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost or Amortized Cost	1,093	1,013
Gross Unrealized Gains	92	92
Gross Unrealized Losses	(196)	(132)
Fair Value	989	973
Non-Credit OTTI	$ 0	$ 0