Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $330,900 and $340,870, respectively; includes $3,940 and $3,378, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	$ 348,787	$ 374,266
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $2,978 and $2,838, respectively)	3,241	2,891
Fair value option and trading securities, at estimated fair value (includes $636 and $659, respectively, of actively traded securities; and $91 and $112, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	16,646	16,348
Mortgage loans:
Held-for-investment, principally at amortized cost (net of valuation allowances of $326 and $347, respectively; includes $2,119 and $2,715, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	57,508	56,592
Held-for-sale, principally at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $49, respectively, under the fair value option)	225	414
Mortgage loans, net	57,733	57,006
Policy loans (includes $3 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,782	11,884
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $9 and $10, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	10,053	9,918
Other limited partnership interests (includes $151 and $274, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,253	6,688
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $6 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	12,664	16,906
Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value (includes $78 and $81, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	16,766	21,145
Total investments	484,925	517,052
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $64 and $99, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,376	15,738
Accrued investment income (includes $27 and $13, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	4,519	4,374
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $19 and $5, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	23,473	21,634
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired (includes $251 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	25,639	24,761
Goodwill	9,509	9,953
Other assets (includes $133 and $5, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,952	7,876
Separate account assets (includes $984 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	255,250	235,393
Total assets	822,643	836,781
Liabilities
Future policy benefits (includes $468 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	186,528	192,351
Policyholder account balances (includes $55 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	214,512	225,821
Other policy-related balances (includes $124 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	15,530	15,463
Policyholder dividends payable	769	728
Policyholder dividend obligation	2,013	3,828
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	31,866	33,687
Bank deposits	0	6,416
Short-term debt	100	100
Long-term debt (includes $1,946 and $2,527, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	18,252	19,062
Collateral financing arrangements	4,196	4,196
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,193	3,192
Current income tax payable	199	401
Deferred income tax liability	5,955	8,693
Other liabilities (includes $89 and $40, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	22,902	22,492
Separate account liabilities (includes $984 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	255,250	235,393
Total liabilities	761,265	771,823
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 15)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in partially-owned consolidated subsidiaries	110	121
MetLife, Inc.'s stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized: 84,000,000 shares issued and outstanding; $2,100 aggregate liquidation preference	1	1
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized; 1,124,039,249 and 1,094,880,623 shares issued at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively; 1,120,845,362 and 1,091,686,736 shares outstanding at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	11	11
Additional paid-in capital	29,221	28,011
Retained earnings	26,766	25,205
Treasury stock, at cost; 3,193,887 shares at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012	(172)	(172)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	5,100	11,397
Total MetLife, Inc.'s stockholders' equity	60,927	64,453
Noncontrolling interests	341	384
Total equity	61,268	64,837
Total liabilities and equity	$ 822,643	$ 836,781