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Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions |  | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 12, 2020 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) Entity | Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) Entity | Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Entity
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity Change in Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities |  | $ (2) | $ 3 | $ (2) | $ 5 |
Realized Investment Gains (Losses) |  | 10 | 36 | 18 | 53 |
Deconsolidated VIE Assets |  |  | 292 |  | 292 |
Deconsolidated VIE Liabilities |  |  | 364 |  | 364 |
Fair value of special purpose entities |  | 2 |  | 2 |  | $ 3
variable interest entities deconsolidation gain loss | $ 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Variable Interest Entity, Measure of Activity, Income or Loss before Tax |  | 0 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
Other investments |  | 401 |  | 401 |  | 478
Long-term debt |  | 2,749 |  | $ 2,749 |  | 2,822
Asset-Backed Securities and Utility Obligations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average life |  |  |  | 7 months 6 days |  |
Average rating of assets held by sponsored special purpose entities |  |  |  | BBB+ |  |
Sponsored Variable Interest Entities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Total principal amount of debt outstanding |  | 377 |  | $ 377 |  | 403
Variable Interest Entities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Derecognition, before Tax |  | 1 | 0 | (3) | 0 |
VIE Change in FV of Assets Liabilities, Net of Credit Risk Change |  | (1) | 3 | (5) | 4 |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Expenses |  | 0 | $ 1 | 0 | 1 |
Long-term debt |  | $ 4,125 |  | $ 4,125 |  | $ 4,554
Consolidated Entities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Newly Consolidated Variable Interest Entities |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Number of DeConsolidated Variable Interest Entities |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Number Of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities | Entity |  | 6 |  | 6 |  | 7
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest Expense, Long-term Debt |  | $ (1) | $ (4) | $ (3) | $ (6) |
Long-term debt |  | $ 4,125 |  | $ 4,125 |  | $ 4,554
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of DeConsolidated Variable Interest Entities |  |  |  | 1 | 0 |
Ambac UK [Member] | Consolidated Entities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number Of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities | Entity |  | 5 |  | 5 |  | 6
Ambac UK [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 3,953 |  | $ 3,953 |  | $ 4,351
Ambac Assurance [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Carry Value Secured Notes from LSNI |  | 467 |  | 467 |  | 535
Fixed Income Investments [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross Investment Income, Operating |  | 2 | 4 | 3 | $ 5 |
Fixed Income Investments [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Realized Investment Gains (Losses) |  | 0 | $ 2 | 8 | $ 2 |
Ambac Note Post Exit From Rehabilitation [Member] | Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 1,659 |  | $ 1,659 |  | $ 1,763

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