XML 1205 R60.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Segment
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]      
Number of segments 6us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Cost basis of property, equipment and leasehold improvements $ 2,000,000,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross $ 2,000,000,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross  
Accumulated depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements 1,000,000,000us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment 1,000,000,000us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment  
Depreciation and amortization expense 182,000,000us-gaap_Depreciation 183,000,000us-gaap_Depreciation 208,000,000us-gaap_Depreciation
Cost basis of computer software 1,900,000,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross 1,700,000,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross  
Accumulated amortization of computer software 1,300,000,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAccumulatedAmortization 1,100,000,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAccumulatedAmortization  
Amortization expense related to computer software 212,000,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization 216,000,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization 221,000,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization
Accounting Standards Update 2011-06 [Member]      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]      
Adoption of the new accounting pronouncement 57,000,000us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleEffectOfAdoptionQuantification
/ us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis
= met_AccountingStandardsUpdate201106Member
   
Accounting Standards Update 2013-11 [Member]      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]      
Adoption of the new accounting pronouncement $ 277,000,000us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleEffectOfAdoptionQuantification
/ us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis
= met_AccountingStandardsUpdate201311Member
   
Building [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 40 years    
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Amortization period 4 years    
Minimum      
Real Estate Held-for-investment And Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]      
Real Estate Held-for-investment And Accumulated Depreciation Life Used For Depreciation 20 years    
Minimum | Other Capitalized Property Plant and Equipment [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 3 years    
Minimum | Leasehold Improvements [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 1 year    
Minimum | VODA and VOCRA [Member]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Amortization period 10 years    
Maximum      
Real Estate Held-for-investment And Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]      
Real Estate Held-for-investment And Accumulated Depreciation Life Used For Depreciation 55 years    
Maximum | Other Capitalized Property Plant and Equipment [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 7 years    
Maximum | Leasehold Improvements [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 25 years    
Maximum | VODA and VOCRA [Member]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Amortization period 40 years