v3.8.0.1

Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Narratives) (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2015	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule II Narrative [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) In Interest Expense, Derivative Instruments				$ 1,327,000,000	$ 1,320,000,000	$ 1,306,000,000
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment					119,000,000	0
Prudential Financial
Schedule II Narrative [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) In Interest Expense, Derivative Instruments				1,057,000,000	1,106,000,000	1,080,000,000
Derivatives | Prudential Financial
Schedule II Narrative [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) In Interest Expense, Derivative Instruments				1,000,000	2,000,000	3,000,000
Commercial Paper | Prudential Financial
Schedule II Narrative [Line Items]
Guarantee obligation				500,000,000
Investee Debt | Prudential Financial
Schedule II Narrative [Line Items]
Guarantee obligation				$ 3,900,000,000
Commitments to Extend Credit | Prudential Financial
Schedule II Narrative [Line Items]
Guarantee obligation							$ 500,000,000
Held In Treasury | Common Class B Stock
Schedule II Narrative [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
Schedule II Narrative [Line Items]
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment	651,000,000	$ 770,000,000
Retained Earnings
Schedule II Narrative [Line Items]
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment	(484,000,000)		$ (119,000,000)		$ 119,000,000	484,000,000
Retained Earnings | Prudential Financial
Schedule II Narrative [Line Items]
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment	(484,000,000)	$ (119,000,000)
Additional Paid-in Capital
Schedule II Narrative [Line Items]
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment	(167,000,000)					$ 167,000,000
Additional Paid-in Capital | Prudential Financial
Schedule II Narrative [Line Items]
Class B Stock repurchase adjustment	$ (167,000,000)

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+ References

No definition available.

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Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
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Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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-Publisher FASB
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-SubTopic 20
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Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased and retired during the period. The excess of the purchase price over par value can be charged against retained earnings (once the excess is fully allocated to additional paid in capital).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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