Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				84 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2008 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2007 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2009 USD ($)	Sep. 15, 2008 USD ($) Cus	Dec. 31, 2011 Maximum [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Minimum [Member] USD ($)
Unfunded commitments to extend credit, short term		77.00%
Percent of fair market value that must be maintained in collateral		100.00%
Compensation Received By Prudential		$ 28,100,000
Actual damages asserted by attorney general						56,000,000
Litigation reserve						250,000,000					90,000,000	0
Estimated indirect foreign exchange revenue		331,000,000	336,000,000	369,000,000	462,000,000
Settlement, amount	400,000,000		12,000,000
Net assets of a fund held by Lehman										312,000,000
Number of customer not entered into settlement agreements										4
Settlements with Dutch customers							42,000,000
Investment in funds by customers not settled										143,000,000
Notional amount of contingencies accounted for as derivative financial instruments		40,960,000,000	46,760,000,000
Asserted damages by two participants in the agency securities lending program									120,000,000
Complaints seek relief including claimed damages		100,000,000
The difference between the amortized cost and market value of the in-kind distribution		28,500,000						49,000,000
Cash collateral provided for securities lending		5,210,000,000	2,720,000,000
Cash collateral received for securities lending		$ 4,590,000,000	$ 1,210,000,000