Goodwill and Intangibles, including DAC and VOBA - Summary of Changes in Carrying Amounts of Goodwill and Intangible Assets Including FGL's DAC and VOBA Balances (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Goodwill and Intangibles, including DAC and VOBA - Summary of Changes in Carrying Amounts of Goodwill and Intangible Assets Including FGL's DAC and VOBA Balances (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Balance, Goodwill	$ 694.2
Acquisitions (Note 13), Goodwill	726.1
Effect of translation, Goodwill	1.0
Balance, Goodwill	1,421.3
Balance, Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets	841.1
Acquisitions (Note 13), Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets	330.0
Less: Components of amortization:
Effect of translation	1.8
Balance at December 30, 2012	1,034.1
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net	28.0
Effect of translation	4.6
Amortization of Intangible Assets	86.6	56.7
Balance at December 30, 2012	2,475.7
Effect of translation, Indefinite Lived intangible assets	2.8
Balance, Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets	1,173.9
Balance at September 30, 2012	873.9
Acquisitions (Note 13)	175.5
Less: Components of amortization:
Effect of translation	1.8
Balance at December 30, 2012	1,034.1
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net	28.0
Effect of translation	4.6
Amortization of Intangible Assets	86.6	56.7
Balance at December 30, 2012	2,475.7
Balance at September 30, 2012	1,988.5
Acquisitions (Note 13)	505.5
Deferrals	35.7
Less: Components of amortization:
Effect of translation	1.8
Balance at December 30, 2012	1,034.1
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net	28.0
Effect of translation	4.6
Amortization of Intangible Assets	86.6	56.7
Balance at December 30, 2012	2,475.7
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net, Goodwill	28.0
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net
Less: Components of amortization:
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net
Deferrals
Less: Components of amortization:
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net, Goodwill
Periodic amortization [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Definite Lived Intangible Asset	(17.1)
Amortization of Intangible Assets	(105.6)
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Definite Lived Intangible Asset	(17.1)
Amortization of Intangible Assets	(105.6)
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Definite Lived Intangible Asset	(17.1)
Amortization of Intangible Assets	(105.6)
Amortization of Goodwill
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization
Interest [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Definite Lived Intangible Asset
Amortization of Intangible Assets	7.6
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Definite Lived Intangible Asset
Amortization of Intangible Assets	7.6
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Definite Lived Intangible Asset
Amortization of Intangible Assets	7.6
Amortization of Goodwill
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization
Unlocking [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Definite Lived Intangible Asset
Amortization of Intangible Assets	11.4
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Definite Lived Intangible Asset
Amortization of Intangible Assets	11.4
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Definite Lived Intangible Asset
Amortization of Intangible Assets	11.4
Amortization of Goodwill
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization
Reclassifications [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Definite Lived Intangible Asset
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Definite Lived Intangible Asset
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Definite Lived Intangible Asset
Amortization of Goodwill
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization
VOBA [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Effect of translation
Balance at December 30, 2012	76.6
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net	31.2
Amortization of Intangible Assets	58.9	36.5
Balance at September 30, 2012	104.3
Acquisitions (Note 13)
Less: Components of amortization:
Effect of translation
Balance at December 30, 2012	76.6
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net	31.2
Amortization of Intangible Assets	58.9	36.5
Less: Components of amortization:
Effect of translation
Balance at December 30, 2012	76.6
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net	31.2
Amortization of Intangible Assets	58.9	36.5
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net, Goodwill	31.2
VOBA [Member] \| Periodic amortization [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	73.5
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	73.5
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	73.5
VOBA [Member] \| Interest [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	5.3
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	5.3
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	5.3
VOBA [Member] \| Unlocking [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	9.3
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	9.3
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	9.3
VOBA [Member] \| Reclassifications [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets
DAC [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Effect of translation
Balance at December 30, 2012	191.1
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net	(3.2)
Amortization of Intangible Assets	10.6	5.6
Balance at September 30, 2012	169.2
Acquisitions (Note 13)
Less: Components of amortization:
Effect of translation
Balance at December 30, 2012	191.1
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net	(3.2)
Amortization of Intangible Assets	10.6	5.6
Deferrals	35.7
Less: Components of amortization:
Effect of translation
Balance at December 30, 2012	191.1
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net	(3.2)
Amortization of Intangible Assets	10.6	5.6
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net, Goodwill	(3.2)
DAC [Member] \| Periodic amortization [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	15.0
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	15.0
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	15.0
DAC [Member] \| Interest [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	2.3
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	2.3
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	2.3
DAC [Member] \| Unlocking [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	2.1
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	2.1
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets	2.1
DAC [Member] \| Reclassifications [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Less: Components of amortization:
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Definite Lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net
Less: Components of amortization:
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net
Deferrals
Less: Components of amortization:
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net, Goodwill
Goodwill [Member]
Less: Components of amortization:
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net
Less: Components of amortization:
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net
Deferrals
Less: Components of amortization:
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net
Adjustment for unrealized investment (gains), net, Goodwill