| Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance [Table Text Block] | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on: 4 Year Summary Compensation Table Total for CEO 1 Compensation Actually Paid to CEO 1,2,3 ($) Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-CEO NEOs 1 Average Compensation Actually Paid NEOs 1,2,3 Company Total Shareholder Return ($) Peer Group Total Shareholder Return 5 Net Income (US GAAP) Company Selected Performance Measure: Adjusted Earnings 6 ($ in millions) 2022 18,107,426 32,983,046 7,470,032 11,806,990 157.98 136.53 2,354 5,545 2021 16,621,373 32,506,964 6,877,477 11,374,318 132.49 123.73 6,353 7,954 2020 15,434,255 14,071,365 6,596,156 6,197,565 96.46 90.52 5,191 5,623 | | |
| Company Selected Measure Name | Adjusted Earnings | | |
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote [Text Block] | Michel A. Khalaf served as CEO for the full year of each year shown. The non-CEO Named Executive Officers ( Non-CEO NEOs ) included in 2020, 2021, and 2022 average compensation are John D. McCallion, Steven J. Goulart, Bill Pappas, and Ramy Tadros. | | |
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote [Text Block] | The peer group is the S&P 500 Life & Health Insurance Index, which is shown in the performance graph in Part II, Item 5 of the Company’s 2022 Form 10-K. | | |
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 18,107,426 | $ 16,621,373 | $ 15,434,255 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 32,983,046 | 32,506,964 | 14,071,365 |
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote [Text Block] | Compensation Actually Paid ( CAP ) is calculated as prescribed by the SEC based on the compensation disclosed in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Tab le ( SCT Total ), with specified adjustments for equity-based compensation and pensions. To calculate CAP, the required amounts were deducted from and added to the SCT Total as shown in the table below. Deductions from SCT Total Additions to SCT Total Equity Pension Equity Component i Pension Component ii Year SCT Grant Date Change in the Fair Value Change in Fair Change in Fair Pension CAP CEO 2022 18,107,426 11,442,688 — 13,616,111 5,101,141 7,078,340 522,716 32,983,046 2021 16,621,373 9,893,593 449,706 12,172,019 5,816,816 7,807,098 432,957 32,506,964 2020 15,434,255 8,336,617 1,270,246 7,776,180 (173,972) 169,974 471,791 14,071,365 Non-CEO NEOs 2022 7,470,032 3,630,483 347,697 4,320,054 1,697,713 2,076,407 220,964 11,806,990 2021 6,877,477 3,226,219 313,784 3,969,194 1,778,349 2,110,126 179,175 11,374,318 2020 6,596,156 2,803,523 245,374 2,644,371 (68,889) (38,452) 113,276 6,197,565 i There were no equity awards that were granted and vested in the applicable year or awards that failed to meet vesting conditions in the applicable year. ii There was no cost for benefits during the applicable year that is attributed to services rendered in prior periods. | | |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 7,470,032 | 6,877,477 | 6,596,156 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 11,806,990 | 11,374,318 | 6,197,565 |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote [Text Block] | Compensation Actually Paid ( CAP ) is calculated as prescribed by the SEC based on the compensation disclosed in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Tab le ( SCT Total ), with specified adjustments for equity-based compensation and pensions. To calculate CAP, the required amounts were deducted from and added to the SCT Total as shown in the table below. Deductions from SCT Total Additions to SCT Total Equity Pension Equity Component i Pension Component ii Year SCT Grant Date Change in the Fair Value Change in Fair Change in Fair Pension CAP CEO 2022 18,107,426 11,442,688 — 13,616,111 5,101,141 7,078,340 522,716 32,983,046 2021 16,621,373 9,893,593 449,706 12,172,019 5,816,816 7,807,098 432,957 32,506,964 2020 15,434,255 8,336,617 1,270,246 7,776,180 (173,972) 169,974 471,791 14,071,365 Non-CEO NEOs 2022 7,470,032 3,630,483 347,697 4,320,054 1,697,713 2,076,407 220,964 11,806,990 2021 6,877,477 3,226,219 313,784 3,969,194 1,778,349 2,110,126 179,175 11,374,318 2020 6,596,156 2,803,523 245,374 2,644,371 (68,889) (38,452) 113,276 6,197,565 i There were no equity awards that were granted and vested in the applicable year or awards that failed to meet vesting conditions in the applicable year. ii There was no cost for benefits during the applicable year that is attributed to services rendered in prior periods. | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return [Text Block] | CAP vs. Company TSR: | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income [Text Block] | CAP vs. Net Income: i | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure [Text Block] | CAP vs. Adjusted Earnings: i | | |
| Total Shareholder Return Vs Peer Group [Text Block] | Company TSR vs Peer Group TSR: | | |
| Tabular List [Table Text Block] | Most Important Performance Measures Adjusted Earnings 1 Adjusted ROE 2 TSR relative to TSR Peer Group 3 | | |
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 157.98 | 132.49 | 96.46 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 136.53 | 123.73 | 90.52 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 2,354,000,000 | $ 6,353,000,000 | $ 5,191,000,000 |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 5,545,000,000 | 7,954,000,000 | 5,623,000,000 |
| PEO Name | Michel A. Khalaf | | |
| Additional 402(v) Disclosure [Text Block] | The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of unvested equity awards as of December 31st of each year were consistent with those used to calculate the grant date fair value for the SCT 4 Represents our one-year, two-year and three-year TSR as compared to the one-year, two-year and three-year TSR of the S&P 500 Life & Health Index. In each case, TSR is measured starting from December 31, 2019. | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 1 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Adjusted Earnings1 | | |
| Non-GAAP Measure Description [Text Block] | Adjusted Earnings means adjusted earnings available to common shareholders, which is shown in the Company’s 2022 Form 10-K. | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 2 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Adjusted ROE2 | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 3 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | TSR relative to TSR Peer Group3 | | |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Grant Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in the Applicable Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ 11,442,688 | $ 9,893,593 | $ 8,336,617 |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Change in the Actuarial Present Value of Pension Benefits for the Applicable Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | 449,706 | 1,270,246 |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Fair Value of Current Year Equity Awards Unvested at End of Applicable Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 13,616,111 | 12,172,019 | 7,776,180 |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Change in Fair Value of Prior Years' Awards Unvested at End of Applicable Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 5,101,141 | 5,816,816 | (173,972) |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Change in Fair Value of Prior Years' Awards that Vested in Applicable Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 7,078,340 | 7,807,098 | 169,974 |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Pension Service Costs [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 522,716 | 432,957 | 471,791 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Grant Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in the Applicable Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 3,630,483 | 3,226,219 | 2,803,523 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Change in the Actuarial Present Value of Pension Benefits for the Applicable Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 347,697 | 313,784 | 245,374 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Fair Value of Current Year Equity Awards Unvested at End of Applicable Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 4,320,054 | 3,969,194 | 2,644,371 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Change in Fair Value of Prior Years' Awards Unvested at End of Applicable Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 1,697,713 | 1,778,349 | (68,889) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Change in Fair Value of Prior Years' Awards that Vested in Applicable Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 2,076,407 | 2,110,126 | (38,452) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Pension Service Costs [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ 220,964 | $ 179,175 | $ 113,276 |
