Investments and Derivative Instruments (Details 14) (USD $) In Millions	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	$ 134,480	$ 136,854
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(164)	(547)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	5,240	2,775
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(5,404)	(3,322)
Cash flow hedges [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	9,760	10,625
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	439	121
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	466	217
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(27)	(96)
Cash Flow Hedging Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	9,458	10,290
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	432	115
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	432	188
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	0	(73)
Cash flow hedges foreign currency swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	302	335
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	7	6
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	34	29
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(27)	(23)
Fair value hedges [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	1,621	1,797
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(109)	(58)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	76	76
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(185)	(134)
Fair Value Hedging Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	944	1,120
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(86)	(46)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	2	5
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	88	(51)
Fair value hedges - Foreign currency swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	677	677
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(23)	(12)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	74	71
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	97	(83)
Non-qualifying strategies [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	123,099	124,432
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(494)	(610)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	4,698	2,482
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(5,192)	(3,092)
Interest Rate Swaps Caps Floors and Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	9,541	7,938
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(389)	(441)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	699	126
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(1,088)	(567)
Foreign Currency Swaps and Forwards Non-qualifying as Hedges [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	358	368
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(8)	(18)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	2	1
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(10)	(19)
3Win Related Foreign Currency Swaps [Member] | JAPAN [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	2,285	2,285
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	191	177
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	191	177
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	0	0
Fixed annuity hedging instruments [Member] | JAPAN [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	2,016	2,119
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	544	608
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	566	608
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(22)	0
Variable Annuity Hedging Instruments [Member] | JAPAN [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	2,977	1,720
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	1	73
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	66	74
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(65)	(1)
Credit Derivatives that Purchase Credit Protection [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	1,581	2,559
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	50	(9)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	74	29
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(24)	(38)
Credit Derivatives that Assume Credit Risk [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	2,355	2,569
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(639)	(434)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	2	8
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(641)	(442)
Credit Derivatives in Offsetting Positions [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	8,318	8,367
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(63)	(75)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	216	98
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(279)	(173)
Equity index swaps options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	1,329	189
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	27	(10)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	36	5
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(9)	(15)
GMWB product derivatives [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	38,318	42,739
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(2,852)	(1,647)
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	0	0
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(2,852)	(1,647)
GMWB Reinsurance [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	7,519	8,767
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	485	280
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	485	280
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	0	0
GMAB product derivatives [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	245	246
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	(6)	3
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	0	3
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(6)	0
Contingent Capital Facility Put Option [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	500	500
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	29	32
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	29	32
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	0	0
GMWB hedging instruments [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	15,981	17,856
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	1,061	467
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	1,180	647
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	(119)	(180)
Macro Hedge Program [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net Derivatives, Notional Amount	29,776	26,210
Net Derivatives, Fair Value	1,075	384
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	1,152	394
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	$ (77)	$ (10)