v3.8.0.1
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Financial Instruments where Carrying Amounts and Fair Values May Differ) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Assets:        
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity [1] $ 2,049 $ 2,144    
Commercial mortgage and other loans [1] 56,045 52,779    
Policy loans 11,891 11,755    
Cash and cash equivalents 14,490 [1] 14,127 [1] $ 17,612 $ 14,918
Accrued investment income [1] 3,325 3,204    
Liabilities:        
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 8,400 7,606    
Cash collateral for loaned securities 4,354 4,333    
Short-term debt 1,380 1,133    
Long-term debt 17,172 18,041    
Fair Value        
Assets:        
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity 2,430 2,524    
Trading account assets 109 150    
Commercial mortgage and other loans 56,748 53,764    
Policy loans 11,891 11,755    
Short-term investments 1,011 326    
Cash and cash equivalents 6,192 5,821    
Accrued investment income 3,325 3,204    
Other assets 3,115 2,688    
Total assets 84,821 80,232    
Liabilities:        
Policyholders’ account balances—investment contracts 100,186 100,045    
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 8,400 7,606    
Cash collateral for loaned securities 4,354 4,333    
Short-term debt 1,384 1,150    
Long-term debt 19,760 19,929    
Notes issued by consolidated VIEs 322 311    
Other liabilities 6,717 7,236    
Separate account liabilities-investment contracts 101,826 98,588    
Total liabilities 242,949 239,198    
Carrying Amount        
Assets:        
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity 2,049 2,144    
Trading account assets 109 150    
Commercial mortgage and other loans 55,452 52,260    
Policy loans 11,891 11,755    
Short-term investments 1,011 326    
Cash and cash equivalents 6,192 5,821    
Accrued investment income 3,325 3,204    
Other assets 3,115 2,688    
Total assets 83,144 78,348    
Liabilities:        
Policyholders’ account balances—investment contracts 99,948 99,719    
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 8,400 7,606    
Cash collateral for loaned securities 4,354 4,333    
Short-term debt 1,380 1,133    
Long-term debt 17,172 18,041    
Notes issued by consolidated VIEs 322 311    
Other liabilities 6,717 7,236    
Separate account liabilities-investment contracts 101,826 98,588    
Total liabilities 240,119 236,967    
Level 1 | Fair Value        
Assets:        
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity 0 0    
Trading account assets 58 0    
Commercial mortgage and other loans 0 0    
Policy loans 1 1    
Short-term investments 989 0    
Cash and cash equivalents 5,997 4,945    
Accrued investment income 0 0    
Other assets 45 54    
Total assets 7,090 5,000    
Liabilities:        
Policyholders’ account balances—investment contracts 0 0    
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 0 0    
Cash collateral for loaned securities 0 0    
Short-term debt 0 0    
Long-term debt 1,296 1,267    
Notes issued by consolidated VIEs 0 0    
Other liabilities 0 0    
Separate account liabilities-investment contracts 0 0    
Total liabilities 1,296 1,267    
Level 2 | Fair Value        
Assets:        
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity 1,484 1,526    
Trading account assets 51 150    
Commercial mortgage and other loans 129 139    
Policy loans 0 0    
Short-term investments 22 326    
Cash and cash equivalents 195 876    
Accrued investment income 3,325 3,204    
Other assets 2,385 1,976    
Total assets 7,591 8,197    
Liabilities:        
Policyholders’ account balances—investment contracts 33,045 41,653    
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 8,400 7,606    
Cash collateral for loaned securities 4,354 4,333    
Short-term debt 1,384 1,077    
Long-term debt 16,369 15,705    
Notes issued by consolidated VIEs 0 0    
Other liabilities 6,002 6,540    
Separate account liabilities-investment contracts 71,336 71,010    
Total liabilities 140,890 147,924    
Level 3 | Fair Value        
Assets:        
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity 946 998    
Trading account assets 0 0    
Commercial mortgage and other loans 56,619 53,625    
Policy loans 11,890 11,754    
Short-term investments 0 0    
Cash and cash equivalents 0 0    
Accrued investment income 0 0    
Other assets 685 658    
Total assets 70,140 67,035    
Liabilities:        
Policyholders’ account balances—investment contracts 67,141 58,392    
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 0 0    
Cash collateral for loaned securities 0 0    
Short-term debt 0 73    
Long-term debt 2,095 2,957    
Notes issued by consolidated VIEs 322 311    
Other liabilities 715 696    
Separate account liabilities-investment contracts 30,490 27,578    
Total liabilities 100,763 90,007    
Prudential Netting Agreement | Fair Value        
Assets:        
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity 4,913 4,403    
Liabilities:        
Long-term debt 7,577 5,859    
Prudential Netting Agreement | Carrying Amount        
Assets:        
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity 4,627 4,403    
Liabilities:        
Long-term debt 7,287 5,859    
Other long-term investments | Fair Value | Measurement at NAV per share        
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]        
Cost Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure 1,795 1,514    
Other long-term investments | Carrying Amount | Measurement at NAV per share        
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]        
Cost Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure $ 1,571 $ 1,478    
[1] See Note 5 for details of balances associated with variable interest entities.