Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $332,542 and $ 333,599, respectively; includes $4,152 and $4,005, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	$ 355,069	$ 350,187
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $3,241 and $3,012, respectively)	3,693	3,402
Fair value option and trading securities, at estimated fair value (includes $628 and $662, respectively, of actively traded securities; and $88 and $92, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	17,494	17,423
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $326 and $322, respectively; includes $1,140 and $1,621, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities; includes $352 and $338, respectively, under the fair value option)	57,139	57,706
Policy loans (includes $3 and $2, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,762	11,764
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $9 and $1,141, respectively, relating to variable interest entities, includes $1 and $186, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	9,930	10,712
Other limited partnership interests (includes $53 and $53, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,819	7,401
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $6 and $8, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	13,908	13,955
Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value (includes $71 and $78, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	16,433	16,229
Total investments	493,247	488,779
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $45 and $70, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	8,573	7,585
Accrued investment income (includes $28 and $26, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	4,446	4,255
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $27 and $22, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	23,031	21,859
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired (includes $263 and $255, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	26,352	26,706
Goodwill	10,433	10,542
Other assets (includes $139 and $152, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	8,387	8,369
Separate account assets (includes $1,099 and $1,033, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	316,434	317,201
Total assets	890,903	885,296
Liabilities
Future policy benefits (includes $591 and $516, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	189,970	187,942
Policyholder account balances (includes $63 and $56, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	209,498	212,885
Other policy-related balances (includes $125 and $123, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	15,369	15,214
Policyholder dividends payable	656	675
Policyholder dividend obligation	2,463	1,771
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	32,469	30,411
Short-term debt	100	175
Long-term debt (includes $996 and $1,868, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	16,793	18,653
Collateral financing arrangements	4,196	4,196
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,193	3,193
Current income tax payable	239	186
Deferred income tax liability	8,906	6,643
Other liabilities (includes $79 and $88, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	24,178	23,168
Separate account liabilities (includes $1,099 and $1,033, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	316,434	317,201
Total liabilities	824,464	822,313
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 13)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	107	887
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; 1,127,994,116 and 1,125,224,024 shares issued at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; 1,124,800,229 and 1,122,030,137 shares outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	11	11
Additional paid-in capital	29,384	29,277
Retained earnings	28,319	27,332
Treasury stock, at cost; 3,193,887 shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013	(172)	(172)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	8,215	5,104
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	65,758	61,553
Noncontrolling interests	574	543
Total equity	66,332	62,096
Total liabilities and equity	$ 890,903	$ 885,296