v3.8.0.1
Equity (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Aug. 05, 2016
Jan. 02, 2015
Dec. 18, 2001
Mar. 31, 2017
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Retained earnings             $ 28,504,000,000 $ 21,946,000,000    
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment               119,000,000 $ 0  
Cost of Treasury Stock acquired             $ 1,250,000,000 $ 2,000,000,000 $ 1,013,000,000  
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding           0 0 0 0  
Prudential Financial                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Retained earnings             $ 28,504,000,000 $ 21,946,000,000    
Cost of Treasury Stock acquired             1,250,000,000 2,000,000,000 $ 1,664,000,000  
Cash and Short Term Investments at Carrying Value Excluding Intercompany Liquidity Account             4,376,000,000      
Prudential Insurance                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Unassigned Surplus             $ 8,450,000,000      
Percentage of Statutory Surplus             10.00%      
Statutory Surplus Balance             $ 9,948,000,000      
Dividend permitted to be paid without prior approval             505,000,000      
Statutory Net Income             (217,000,000) 5,214,000,000 5,253,000,000  
Statutory Capital and Surplus             $ 9,948,000,000 11,290,000,000    
RBC or solvency margin ratio multiple             4      
PALAC                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Percentage of Statutory Surplus             10.00%      
Dividend permitted to be paid without prior approval             $ 806,000,000      
Statutory Net Income             3,911,000,000 (2,018,000,000) 340,000,000  
Statutory Capital and Surplus             $ 8,059,000,000 5,718,000,000    
RBC or solvency margin ratio multiple             4.0      
POJ                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Japan Permitted Percentage of Statutory Earnings w/o approval             83.00%      
Japan-Retained Earnings Level- Permitted Percentage of Prior Year Statutory Earnings             100.00%      
RBC or solvency margin ratio multiple             3.50      
Gibraltar Life                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Japan Permitted Percentage of Statutory Earnings w/o approval             83.00%      
RBC or solvency margin ratio multiple             3.50      
Prudential International Insurance Holdings                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Proceeds from Dividends Received             $ 248,000,000      
Under June 2015 Board Of Directors Authorization                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Number of Treasury Stock Shares Acquired           6,100,000        
Authorized repurchase amount                   $ 1,000,000,000
Cost of Treasury Stock acquired           $ 500,000,000        
Under August 2016 Board of Director Authorization                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Authorized repurchase amount $ 2,000,000,000                  
Authorized increase $ 500,000,000                  
Under December 2015 Board Of Directors Authorization                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Authorized repurchase amount           $ 1,500,000,000     1,500,000,000  
Under December 2016 Board Of Directors Authorization                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Authorized repurchase amount               1,250,000,000    
Under December 2017 Board Of Directors Authorization                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Authorized repurchase amount             1,500,000,000      
Permitted to be paid after June 2018 | Prudential Insurance                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Dividend permitted to be paid without prior approval             995,000,000      
Permitted to be paid after September 2018 | PALAC                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Dividend permitted to be paid without prior approval             156,000,000      
Permitted to be paid after December 2018 | PALAC                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Dividend permitted to be paid without prior approval             $ 650,000,000      
Common Stock | Under August 2016 Board of Director Authorization                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Number of Treasury Stock Shares Acquired             25,100,000      
Cost of Treasury Stock acquired             $ 2,000,000,000      
Common Stock | Under December 2016 Board Of Directors Authorization                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Number of Treasury Stock Shares Acquired             11,500,000      
Cost of Treasury Stock acquired             $ 1,250,000,000      
Common Stock | IPO                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Price Per Share (in dollars per share)     $ 27.50              
Common Class B Stock                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Number of Treasury Stock Shares Acquired   2,000,000                
Cost of Treasury Stock acquired             0 119,000,000 651,000,000  
Common Class B Stock | Private Placement                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Price Per Share (in dollars per share)     $ 87.50              
Number of shares sold (in shares)     2,000,000              
Held In Treasury | Common Class B Stock                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment   $ 651,000,000     $ 770,000,000       (651,000,000)  
Held In Treasury | Common Class B Stock | Prudential Financial                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment   651,000,000   $ 770,000,000            
Retained Earnings                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment   (484,000,000)     $ (119,000,000)     $ 119,000,000 484,000,000  
Retained Earnings | Prudential Financial                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment   (484,000,000)   $ (119,000,000)            
Additional Paid-in Capital                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment   (167,000,000)             $ 167,000,000  
Additional Paid-in Capital | Prudential Financial                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment   $ (167,000,000)                
Cumulative unrealized investment gains | Prudential Insurance                    
Class of Stock [Line Items]                    
Unassigned Surplus             $ 726,000,000