Derivatives (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value Assets	$ 9,252,000,000		$ 9,252,000,000		$ 8,595,000,000
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	5,582,000,000		5,582,000,000		6,521,000,000
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	9,982,000,000		9,982,000,000		9,055,000,000
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	173,000,000		173,000,000		165,000,000
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity			3 years 6 months		3 years 5 months
Embedded derivatives	229,000,000	1,079,000,000	120,000,000	2,763,000,000
Gain (Loss) on Investments	125,000,000	(110,000,000)	536,000,000	(424,000,000)
Derivative Instrument Detail [Abstract]
Net amounts reclassified into net derivatives gains (losses) on discontinued cash flow hedges	(2,000,000)	0	(4,000,000)	0
Hedging exposure to variability in future cash flows for specific length of time			7 years		7 years
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	737,000,000		737,000,000		375,000,000
Deferred net gains (losses) expected to be reclassified to earnings			(6,000,000)
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion)		0		0
Immateriality of cash flow effectiveness	0	0	0	0
Cumulative foreign currency translation gain (loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for net investment in foreign operations hedges	(7,000,000)		(7,000,000)		233,000,000
Potential future recoveries available to offset maximum amount of future payments under credit default swaps	75,000,000		75,000,000		90,000,000
Excess securities collateral received on derivatives	63,000,000		63,000,000		104,000,000
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives	226,000,000		226,000,000		236,000,000
Change in fair value of derivatives excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness	2,000,000	0	5,000,000	0
Securities collateral received which the company is permitted to sell or repledge, amount that has been sold or repledged	0		0
Over the Counter [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Excess securities collateral received on derivatives	105,000,000		105,000,000		238,000,000
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives	74,000,000		74,000,000		66,000,000
Exchange Traded [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Excess securities collateral received on derivatives	130,000,000		130,000,000		141,000,000
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives	200,000,000		200,000,000		81,000,000
Ba [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	15,000,000		15,000,000		5,000,000
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	0		0		0
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity			3 years 1 month		3 years 9 months
Nonperformance Risk [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Embedded derivatives	(51,000,000)	(236,000,000)	(8,000,000)	(650,000,000)
B [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	372,000,000		372,000,000		375,000,000
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	33,000,000		33,000,000		32,000,000
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity			4 years 11 months		4 years 11 months
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] | MetLife Assurance Limited [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Investments	77,000,000		77,000,000
Hedge Funds [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	15,000,000		15,000,000		10,000,000
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	0		0		0
Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value Assets	214,000,000		214,000,000		255,000,000
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	51,000,000		51,000,000		28,000,000
Credit Index Product [Member] | Ba [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	0		0		0
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	0		0		0
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity			0 years		0 years
Credit Index Product [Member] | B [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	372,000,000		372,000,000		375,000,000
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	33,000,000		33,000,000		32,000,000
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity			4 years 11 months		4 years 11 months
Credit Default Swap [Member] | Ba [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	15,000,000		15,000,000		5,000,000
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	0		0		0
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity			3 years 1 month		3 years 9 months
Credit Default Swap [Member] | B [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	0		0		0
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity			0 years		0 years