v3.8.0.1

Investments (Allowance for Credit Losses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance, beginning of year | $ 106 | $ 112
Addition to (release of) allowance for losses | 1 | (6)
Charge-offs, net of recoveries | (1) | (1)
Change in foreign exchange | 0 | 1
Total ending balance | 106 | 106
Commercial Mortgage Loans |  |
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance, beginning of year | 96 | 97
Addition to (release of) allowance for losses | 2 | 0
Charge-offs, net of recoveries | (1) | (1)
Change in foreign exchange | 0 | 0
Total ending balance | 97 | 96
Agricultural Property Loans |  |
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance, beginning of year | 2 | 2
Addition to (release of) allowance for losses | 1 | 0
Charge-offs, net of recoveries | 0 | 0
Change in foreign exchange | 0 | 0
Total ending balance | 3 | 2
Residential property loans |  |
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance, beginning of year | 2 | 3
Addition to (release of) allowance for losses | (1) | (1)
Charge-offs, net of recoveries | 0 | 0
Change in foreign exchange | 0 | 0
Total ending balance | 1 | 2
Other collateralized loans |  |
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance, beginning of year | 0 | 0
Addition to (release of) allowance for losses | 0 | 0
Charge-offs, net of recoveries | 0 | 0
Change in foreign exchange | 0 | 0
Total ending balance | 0 | 0
Uncollateralized loans |  |
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance, beginning of year | 6 | 10
Addition to (release of) allowance for losses | (1) | (5)
Charge-offs, net of recoveries | 0 | 0
Change in foreign exchange | 0 | 1
Total ending balance | $ 5 | $ 6

X
- Definition Amount of gain (loss) from converting allowance reserve for credit loss to currency of reporting entity from amount denominated or measured in a different currency, which decreases (increases) the allowance for loan and lease losses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5212-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesForeignCurrencyTranslation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) of allowance reserve for credit loss. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesRollForward
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of loans and leases that have been written off from both loan receivables and allowance reserve for credit loss. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11B -Subparagraph (c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL6953423-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesWriteOffs
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition A valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11B -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL6953423-111524 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CommercialLoanMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=pru_AgriculturalPropertyLoansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_UncollateralizedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |