Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $333,599 and $340,870, respectively; includes $4,005 and $3,378, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	$ 350,187	$ 374,266
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $3,012 and $2,838, respectively)	3,402	2,891
Fair value option and trading securities, at estimated fair value (includes $662 and $659, respectively, of actively traded securities; and $92 and $112, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	17,423	16,348
Mortgage loans:
Held-for-investment, principally at amortized cost (net of valuation allowances of $322 and $347, respectively; includes $1,621 and $2,715, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities; includes $338 and $0, respectively, under the fair value option)	57,703	56,592
Held-for-sale, principally at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $49, respectively, under the fair value option)	3	414
Mortgage loans, net	57,706	57,006
Policy loans (includes $2 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,764	11,884
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $1,141 and $10, respectively, relating to variable interest entities; includes $186 and $1, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	10,712	9,918
Other limited partnership interests (includes $53 and $274, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,401	6,688
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $8 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	13,955	16,906
Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value (includes $78 and $81, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	16,229	21,145
Total investments	488,779	517,052
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $70 and $99, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,585	15,738
Accrued investment income (includes $26 and $13, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	4,255	4,374
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $22 and $5, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	21,859	21,634
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired (includes $255 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	26,706	24,761
Goodwill	10,542	9,953
Other assets (includes $152 and $5, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	8,369	7,876
Separate account assets (includes $1,033 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	317,201	235,393
Total assets	885,296	836,781
Liabilities
Future policy benefits (includes $516 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	187,942	192,351
Policyholder account balances (includes $56 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	212,885	225,821
Other policy-related balances (includes $123 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	15,214	15,463
Policyholder dividends payable	675	728
Policyholder dividend obligation	1,771	3,828
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	30,411	33,687
Bank deposits	0	6,416
Short-term debt	175	100
Long-term debt (includes $1,868 and $2,527, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	18,653	19,062
Collateral financing arrangements	4,196	4,196
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,193	3,192
Current income tax payable	186	401
Deferred income tax liability	6,643	8,693
Other liabilities (includes $88 and $40, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	23,168	22,492
Separate account liabilities (includes $1,033 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	317,201	235,393
Total liabilities	822,313	771,823
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 21)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	887	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; 1,125,224,024 and 1,094,880,623 shares issued at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively; 1,122,030,137 and 1,091,686,736 shares outstanding at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively	11	11
Additional paid-in capital	29,277	28,011
Retained earnings	27,332	25,205
Treasury stock, at cost; 3,193,887 shares at December 31, 2013 and 2012	(172)	(172)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	5,104	11,397
Total MetLife, Inc.'s stockholders' equity	61,553	64,453
Noncontrolling interests	543	384
Total equity	62,096	64,837
Total liabilities and equity	$ 885,296	$ 836,781