Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions	Total	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]		Total MetLife, Inc.'s Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock at Cost [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Other-Than-Temporary Impairments [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 64,837	$ 384		$ 64,453	$ 1	$ 11	$ 28,011	$ (172)	$ 25,205	$ 14,642	$ (223)	$ (533)	$ (2,489)
Stock-based compensation	100			100			100
Dividends on preferred stock	(30)			(30)					(30)
Dividends on common stock	(203)			(203)					(203)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(10)	29		(39)			(39)
Net income (loss)	992	6	[1]	986					986
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(814)	3		(817)						(241)	59	(672)	37
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	64,872	422		64,450	1	11	28,072	(172)	25,958	14,401	(164)	(1,205)	(2,452)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	62,096	543		61,553	1	11	29,277	(172)	27,332	8,553	(139)	(1,659)	(1,651)
Stock-based compensation	107			107			107
Dividends on preferred stock	(30)			(30)					(30)
Dividends on common stock	(311)			(311)					(311)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(12)	(12)		0
Net income (loss)	1,339	11	[1]	1,328					1,328
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	3,143	32		3,111						3,242	24	(184)	29
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	$ 66,332	$ 574		$ 65,758	$ 1	$ 11	$ 29,384	$ (172)	$ 28,319	$ 11,795	$ (115)	$ (1,843)	$ (1,622)

[1] Net income (loss) at March 31, 2014 and 2013, attributable to noncontrolling interests excludes gains (losses) of redeemable noncontrolling interests in partially-owned consolidated subsidiaries of less than $1 million and $1 million, respectively.