Common Equity Units	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Temporary Equity Disclosure [Abstract]
Common Equity Units [Text Block]	10. Common Equity Units Remarketing of Senior Debt Securities and Settlement of Stock Purchase Contracts In September 2013, MetLife, Inc. closed the successful remarketing of a portion of the senior debt securities underlying common equity units issued in November 2010 in connection with the acquisition of American Life Insurance Company and Delaware American Life Insurance Company (collectively, “ALICO”). The senior debt securities, which are due September 15, 2023, were remarketed as 4.368% senior debt securities. MetLife, Inc. did not receive any proceeds from the remarketing. Most holders of common equity units used remarketing proceeds to settle their payment obligations under the applicable stock purchase contracts. The subsequent settlement of the stock purchase contracts provided proceeds to MetLife, Inc. of $1.0 billion in exchange for shares of MetLife, Inc.'s common stock. MetLife, Inc. delivered 22,679,955 shares of its newly issued common stock to settle the stock purchase contracts. See Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2012 Annual Report for additional information.

10. Common Equity Units

Remarketing of Senior Debt Securities and Settlement of Stock Purchase Contracts

In September 2013, MetLife, Inc. closed the successful remarketing of a portion of the senior debt securities underlying common equity units issued in November 2010 in connection with the acquisition of American Life Insurance Company and Delaware American Life Insurance Company (collectively, “ALICO”). The senior debt securities, which are due September 15, 2023, were remarketed as 4.368% senior debt securities. MetLife, Inc. did not receive any proceeds from the remarketing. Most holders of common equity units used remarketing proceeds to settle their payment obligations under the applicable stock purchase contracts. The subsequent settlement of the stock purchase contracts provided proceeds to MetLife, Inc. of $1.0 billion in exchange for shares of MetLife, Inc.'s common stock. MetLife, Inc. delivered 22,679,955 shares of its newly issued common stock to settle the stock purchase contracts. See Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2012 Annual Report for additional information.