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Insurance (Fund Groupings) (Details) (Variable Annuity and Variable Life [Member], USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]    
Fund Groupings $ 171,849us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentFairValue $ 166,753us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentFairValue
Balanced
   
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]    
Fund Groupings 87,667us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentFairValue
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_VariableAnnuityAndVariableLifeMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis
= met_BalancedFundsMember
75,928us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentFairValue
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_VariableAnnuityAndVariableLifeMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis
= met_BalancedFundsMember
Equity
   
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]    
Fund Groupings 71,742us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentFairValue
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_VariableAnnuityAndVariableLifeMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_EquityFundsMember
79,036us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentFairValue
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_VariableAnnuityAndVariableLifeMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_EquityFundsMember
Bond
   
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]    
Fund Groupings 11,416us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentFairValue
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_VariableAnnuityAndVariableLifeMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis
= met_BondFundsMember
10,632us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentFairValue
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_VariableAnnuityAndVariableLifeMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis
= met_BondFundsMember
Money Market
   
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]    
Fund Groupings $ 1,024us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentFairValue
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_VariableAnnuityAndVariableLifeMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
$ 1,157us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentFairValue
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_VariableAnnuityAndVariableLifeMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember