Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $339,287 and $333,599, respectively; includes $4,180 and $4,005, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	$ 367,056	$ 350,187
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $3,252 and $3,012, respectively)	3,863	3,402
Fair value option and trading securities, at estimated fair value (includes $690 and $662, respectively, of actively traded securities; and $84 and $92, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	17,831	17,423
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $294 and $322, respectively; includes $638 and $1,621, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities; includes $367 and $338, respectively, under the fair value option)	57,223	57,706
Policy loans (includes $3 and $2, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,785	11,764
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $9 and $1,141, respectively, relating to variable interest entities, includes $49 and $186, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	10,101	10,712
Other limited partnership interests (includes $53 and $53, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,964	7,401
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $22 and $8, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	12,366	13,955
Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value (includes $71 and $78, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	17,116	16,229
Total investments	505,305	488,779
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $45 and $70, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,393	7,585
Accrued investment income (includes $23 and $26, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	4,234	4,255
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $21 and $22, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	23,730	21,859
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired (includes $260 and $255, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	25,915	26,706
Goodwill	10,430	10,542
Other assets (includes $140 and $152, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	9,136	8,369
Separate account assets (includes $1,164 and $1,033, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	324,977	317,201
Total assets	911,120	885,296
Liabilities
Future policy benefits (includes $542 and $516, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	189,675	187,942
Policyholder account balances (includes $63 and $56, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	213,799	212,885
Other policy-related balances (includes $203 and $123, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	15,361	15,214
Policyholder dividends payable	682	675
Policyholder dividend obligation	2,986	1,771
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	33,187	30,411
Short-term debt	100	175
Long-term debt (includes $505 and $1,868, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	16,783	18,653
Collateral financing arrangements	4,196	4,196
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,193	3,193
Current income tax payable	232	186
Deferred income tax liability	10,453	6,643
Other liabilities (includes $66 and $88, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	25,214	23,168
Separate account liabilities (includes $1,164 and $1,033, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	324,977	317,201
Total liabilities	840,838	822,313
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 14)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	108	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; 1,129,845,890 and 1,125,224,024 shares issued at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; 1,126,571,341 and 1,122,030,137 shares outstanding at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	11	11
Additional paid-in capital	29,438	29,277
Retained earnings	29,259	27,332
Treasury stock, at cost; 3,274,549 and 3,193,887 shares at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	(176)	(172)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	11,058	5,104
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	69,591	61,553
Noncontrolling interests	583	543
Total equity	70,174	62,096
Total liabilities and equity	$ 911,120	$ 885,296