v3.8.0.1
Significant Accounting Policies and Pronouncements (Details) - USD ($)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Sep. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2017
Mar. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Loan-to-value ratios (greater than)                 100.00%      
Debt service coverage ratios (less than)                 1.0      
Cost Method Investment, Ownership Percentage                 3.00%      
Repurchase and Resale Agreements, Collateral, Percentage                 95.00%      
Uncertain Tax Positions Measurement Percentage (greater than)                 50.00%      
Charge related to change in estimate                 $ (13,445,000,000) $ (14,815,000,000) $ (13,942,000,000)  
Other Long-term Investments [1] $ 12,308,000,000       $ 11,283,000,000       12,308,000,000 11,283,000,000    
TOTAL ASSETS 831,921,000,000       783,962,000,000       831,921,000,000 783,962,000,000    
Policyholders’ dividends 6,411,000,000       5,711,000,000       6,411,000,000 5,711,000,000    
Income taxes 9,600,000,000       10,412,000,000       9,600,000,000 10,412,000,000    
Total liabilities 777,577,000,000       737,874,000,000       777,577,000,000 737,874,000,000    
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 17,074,000,000       14,621,000,000       17,074,000,000 14,621,000,000    
Retained earnings 28,504,000,000       21,946,000,000       28,504,000,000 21,946,000,000    
Total equity 54,344,000,000       46,088,000,000       54,344,000,000 46,088,000,000 41,923,000,000 $ 42,349,000,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 831,921,000,000       783,962,000,000       831,921,000,000 783,962,000,000    
NET INCOME (LOSS) 3,865,000,000 $ 2,241,000,000 $ 496,000,000 $ 1,372,000,000 293,000,000 $ 1,832,000,000 $ 925,000,000 $ 1,369,000,000 $ 7,974,000,000 4,419,000,000 5,712,000,000  
Securities Lending Transactions | Domestic operations                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Cash collateral for loaned securities                 102.00%      
Securities Lending Transactions | Foreign operations                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Cash collateral for loaned securities                 105.00%      
Minimum                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Estimated useful life                 3 years      
Maximum                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Estimated useful life                 40 years      
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Cumulative effect of adoption 53,000,000               $ 53,000,000      
Other Long-term Investments 224,000,000               224,000,000      
TOTAL ASSETS 224,000,000               224,000,000      
Policyholders’ dividends 157,000,000               157,000,000      
Income taxes 14,000,000               14,000,000      
Total liabilities 171,000,000               171,000,000      
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (847,000,000)               (847,000,000)      
Retained earnings 900,000,000               900,000,000      
Total equity 53,000,000               53,000,000      
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 224,000,000               224,000,000      
NET INCOME (LOSS)                 0      
Change in Accounting Method Accounted for as Change in Estimate | Individual Life                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Charge related to change in estimate     $ 237,000,000                  
Retained Earnings                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Total equity 28,504,000,000       $ 21,946,000,000       28,504,000,000 21,946,000,000 18,931,000,000 $ 14,888,000,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)                 7,863,000,000 $ 4,368,000,000 $ 5,642,000,000  
Retained Earnings | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Cumulative effect of adoption $ 900,000,000               $ 900,000,000      
[1] See Note 5 for details of balances associated with variable interest entities.