v3.8.0.1
Policyholders' Liabilities (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Policyholders’ account balances $ 148,189 $ 145,205  
Minimum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses interest rate 2.60%    
Maximum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses interest rate 6.40%    
Individual participating life insurance      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Participating policies direct in force 3.00% 4.00%  
Participating policies direct premiums 14.00% 14.00% 16.00%
Individual participating life insurance | Minimum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liabilities for future policy benefits, interest rate 2.50%    
Individual participating life insurance | Maximum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liabilities for future policy benefits, interest rate 7.50%    
Individual nonparticipating life insurance      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Percentage of reserves based on interest rates in excess of 8 Percent (less than) 1.00%    
Individual nonparticipating life insurance | Minimum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liabilities for future policy benefits, interest rate 0.10%    
Individual nonparticipating life insurance | Maximum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liabilities for future policy benefits, interest rate 9.50%    
Individual and group annuities and supplementary contracts      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Percentage of reserves based on interest rates in excess of 8 Percent (less than) 1.00%    
Individual and group annuities and supplementary contracts | Minimum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liabilities for future policy benefits, interest rate 0.10%    
Individual and group annuities and supplementary contracts | Maximum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liabilities for future policy benefits, interest rate 11.30%    
Other contract liabilities | Minimum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liabilities for future policy benefits, interest rate 1.00%    
Other contract liabilities | Maximum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liabilities for future policy benefits, interest rate 7.30%    
Funding agreements      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Policyholders’ account balances $ 4,631 $ 4,794  
Interest-sensitive life contracts      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Policyholders’ account balances $ 36,879 34,452  
Interest-sensitive life contracts | Minimum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liability for policyholder contract deposits, interest rate 0.00%    
Interest-sensitive life contracts | Maximum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liability for policyholder contract deposits, interest rate 7.5963%    
Other than interest-sensitive life contracts      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Less than 1% of policyholders' account balances have interest crediting rates in excess of 8% 1.00%    
Other than interest-sensitive life contracts | Minimum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liability for policyholder contract deposits, interest rate 0.00%    
Other than interest-sensitive life contracts | Maximum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liability for policyholder contract deposits, interest rate 13.25%    
Delaware Statutory Trust | Funding agreements | Prudential Insurance      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Policyholders’ account balances $ 4,165 3,758  
Medium-term Notes, at amortized cost 3,211 3,210  
Commercial Paper $ 957 550  
Delaware Statutory Trust | Funding agreements | Minimum | Prudential Insurance      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liability for policyholder contract deposits, interest rate 0.00%    
Weighted average maturity of outstanding commercial paper, in days 7 days    
Delaware Statutory Trust | Funding agreements | Maximum | Prudential Insurance      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liability for policyholder contract deposits, interest rate 2.60%    
Weighted average maturity of outstanding commercial paper, in days 5 years    
Medium-term notes | Delaware Statutory Trust | Funding agreements | Prudential Insurance      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
FANIP maximum authorized amount $ 15,000    
Commercial Paper | Delaware Statutory Trust | Funding agreements | Prudential Insurance      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
FANIP maximum authorized amount 3,000    
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York | Funding agreements      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Policyholders’ account balances $ 436 $ 1,001  
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York | Funding agreements | Minimum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liability for policyholder contract deposits, interest rate 1.20%    
Weighted average maturity of outstanding commercial paper, in days 5 years    
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York | Funding agreements | Maximum      
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]      
Liability for policyholder contract deposits, interest rate 2.10%    
Weighted average maturity of outstanding commercial paper, in days 7 years