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Derivatives (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Estimated Fair Value Assets $ 15,791,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset   $ 13,452,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities 7,822,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability   7,022,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps 10,206,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted   10,527,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps 186,000,000us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue   175,000,000us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
Excess securities collateral received on derivatives 259,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash   87,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity 4 years   3 years 11 months
Embedded derivatives gains (losses) (27,000,000)us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet (109,000,000)us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet  
Gain (Loss) on Investments (286,000,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments 411,000,000us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments  
Derivative Instrument Detail [Abstract]      
Net amounts reclassified into net derivatives gains (losses) on discontinued cash flow hedges 3,000,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDiscontinuationOfCashFlowHedgeDueToForecastedTransactionProbableOfNotOccurringNet (2,000,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnDiscontinuationOfCashFlowHedgeDueToForecastedTransactionProbableOfNotOccurringNet  
Hedging exposure to variability in future cash flows for specific length of time 6 years   6 years
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss 2,500,000,000met_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss   1,800,000,000met_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
Deferred net gains (losses) expected to be reclassified to earnings 35,000,000us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) 0met_AmountAndLocationOfGainsLossesReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossIntoIncomeLossEffectivePortionOnNetInvestmentInForeignOperationHedges 0met_AmountAndLocationOfGainsLossesReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossIntoIncomeLossEffectivePortionOnNetInvestmentInForeignOperationHedges  
Immateriality of cash flow effectiveness 0 0  
Cumulative foreign currency translation gain (loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for net investment in foreign operations hedges 1,000,000,000us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeNetOfTax   940,000,000us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeNetOfTax
Potential future recoveries available to offset maximum amount of future payments under credit default swaps 79,000,000met_CreditDerivativePurchaseProtectionOffset   75,000,000met_CreditDerivativePurchaseProtectionOffset
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives 240,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash   192,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash
Change in fair value of derivatives excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness (2,000,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnComponentsExcludedFromAssessmentOfForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeEffectiveness 3,000,000us-gaap_GainLossOnComponentsExcludedFromAssessmentOfForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeEffectiveness  
Securities collateral received which the company is permitted to sell or repledge, amount that has been sold or repledged 0us-gaap_CustomerSecuritiesForWhichEntityHasRightToSellOrRepledgeFairValueOfSecuritiesSoldOrRepledged    
Ba [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps 160,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BaMember
  160,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BaMember
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps 1,000,000us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BaMember
  (1,000,000)us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BaMember
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity 2 years 1 month   2 years 5 months
Nonperformance Risk [Member]      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Embedded derivatives gains (losses) 69,000,000us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_NonperformanceRiskMember
43,000,000us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_NonperformanceRiskMember
 
B      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps 613,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BMember
  625,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BMember
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps 50,000,000us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BMember
  39,000,000us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BMember
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity 4 years 8 months   4 years 11 months
Over the Counter [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Cash collateral on derivative assets (7,076,000,000)us-gaap_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
  (4,153,000,000)us-gaap_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
Excess securities collateral received on derivatives 384,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
  395,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives 116,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
  117,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
Exchange-traded      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Cash collateral on derivative assets 0us-gaap_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
  0us-gaap_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
Excess securities collateral received on derivatives 237,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
  199,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives 212,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
  245,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
Hedge Funds [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps 15,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
  15us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps 1,000,000us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
  1us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
Accrued Liabilities [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Estimated Fair Value Assets 252,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
  255,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities 23,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
  60,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
Off-Balance Sheet [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Excess securities collateral received on derivatives 94,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= met_OffBalanceSheetMember
  36,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= met_OffBalanceSheetMember
Off-Balance Sheet [Member] | Over the Counter [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Cash collateral on derivative assets (327,000,000)us-gaap_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= met_OffBalanceSheetMember
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
  (263,000,000)us-gaap_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= met_OffBalanceSheetMember
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
Credit Index Product [Member] | Ba [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps 100,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditIndexProductMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BaMember
  100,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditIndexProductMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BaMember
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps 0us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditIndexProductMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BaMember
  (1,000,000)us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditIndexProductMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BaMember
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity 1 year 10 months 2 years  
Credit Index Product [Member] | B      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps 613,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditIndexProductMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BMember
  625,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditIndexProductMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BMember
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps 50,000,000us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditIndexProductMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BMember
  39,000,000us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditIndexProductMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BMember
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity 4 years 8 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 60,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BaMember
  60,000,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BaMember
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps 1,000,000us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BaMember
  0us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BaMember
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity 2 years 8 months   3 years
Credit Default Swap [Member] | B      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps 0us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BMember
  0us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BMember
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps $ 0us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BMember
  $ 0us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_BMember
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Average Remaining Maturity 0 years   0 years