v3.8.0.1

Certain Long-Duration Contracts with Guarantees (Variable Annuity, Variable Life, Variable Universal Life and Universal Life Contracts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Annuity Contracts | Return of net deposits | In the Event of Death |  |
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items] |  |
Account value | $ 129,231 | $ 119,433
Net amount at risk | $ 288 | $ 493
Average attained age of contractholders | 66 years | 65 years
Annuity Contracts | Return of net deposits | At Annuitization / Accumulation |  |
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items] |  |
Account value | $ 100 | $ 152
Net amount at risk | $ 0 | $ 0
Average attained age of contractholders | 66 years | 66 years
Annuity Contracts | Minimum return or contract value | In the Event of Death |  |
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items] |  |
Account value | $ 35,431 | $ 33,843
Net amount at risk | $ 2,611 | $ 3,714
Average attained age of contractholders | 68 years | 67 years
Annuity Contracts | Minimum return or contract value | At Annuitization / Accumulation |  |
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items] |  |
Account value | $ 146,319 | $ 135,462
Net amount at risk | $ 3,762 | $ 5,788
Average attained age of contractholders | 66 years | 65 years
Average period remaining until earliest expected annuitization | 2 months 25 days | 3 months 6 days
Variable Life, Variable Universal Life and Universal Life Contracts | No-lapse guarantees | In the Event of Death |  |
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items] |  |
Separate account value | $ 9,365 | $ 8,144
General account value | 15,969 | 14,513
Net amount at risk | $ 241,598 | $ 225,084
Average attained age of contractholders | 55 years | 56 years

X
- Definition Account Value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | pru_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeAccountValue
Namespace Prefix: | pru_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Value of the general accounts corresponding to the specified product, guarantee type and subset of the guarantee. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 80 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6484115&loc=d3e19393-158473 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Net amount at risk, representing the guaranteed benefit in excess of the current account balance corresponding to the specified product, guarantee type and subset of the guarantee. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 80 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d)(3),(5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6484115&loc=d3e19393-158473 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6588021&loc=d3e7104-158389 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRisk
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Value of the separate accounts corresponding to the specified product, guarantee type and subset of the guarantee. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 80 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph ((d)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6484115&loc=d3e19393-158473 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6588021&loc=d3e7104-158389 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeSeparateAccountValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Weighted average attained age of policyholders or contract holders in the specified guarantee type and subset of guarantee class, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 80 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph ((d)(5)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6484115&loc=d3e19393-158473 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6588021&loc=d3e7104-158389 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeWeightedAverageAttainedAge1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Weighted average period until annuitization or benefit payment is expected to occur, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6588021&loc=d3e7104-158389 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeWeightedAveragePeriodRemaining1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteedInsuranceContractTypeOfGuaranteeAxis=us-gaap_ReturnOfNetDepositMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteedInsuranceContractTypeOfBenefitAxis=pru_InEventOfDeathMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteedInsuranceContractTypeOfBenefitAxis=pru_AtAnnuitizationAccumulationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteedInsuranceContractTypeOfGuaranteeAxis=pru_MimimumReturnOrContractValueMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_OtherLongdurationInsuranceProductLineMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteedInsuranceContractTypeOfGuaranteeAxis=pru_NoLapseGuaranteesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |