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Fair Value (Fair Value Option for Certain Assets and Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]    
Carrying value at estimated fair value $ 62,409us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate $ 60,118us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate
Carrying value at estimated fair value 17,714us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsIncludingCurrentMaturities 16,286us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsIncludingCurrentMaturities
Consolidated Securitization Entities    
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]    
Unpaid principal balance 218us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
223us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
Difference between estimated fair value and unpaid principal balance 54us-gaap_FairValueOptionAggregateDifferencesLoansAndLongTermReceivables
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
57us-gaap_FairValueOptionAggregateDifferencesLoansAndLongTermReceivables
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
Carrying value at estimated fair value 272us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
280us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
Loans in non-accrual status 0us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssetsAggregateAmountInNonaccrualStatus
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
0us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssetsAggregateAmountInNonaccrualStatus
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
Contractual principal balance 152us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
159us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
Difference between estimated fair value and contractual principal balance (9)us-gaap_FairValueOptionAggregateDifferencesLongTermDebtInstruments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
(8)us-gaap_FairValueOptionAggregateDifferencesLongTermDebtInstruments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
Carrying value at estimated fair value 143us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsIncludingCurrentMaturities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
151us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsIncludingCurrentMaturities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= met_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryConsolidatedSecuritizationEntitiesMember
Residential mortgage loans — FVO    
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]    
Unpaid principal balance 466us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= met_ResidentialLoansHeldForInvestmentMember
436us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= met_ResidentialLoansHeldForInvestmentMember
Difference between estimated fair value and unpaid principal balance (137)us-gaap_FairValueOptionAggregateDifferencesLoansAndLongTermReceivables
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= met_ResidentialLoansHeldForInvestmentMember
(128)us-gaap_FairValueOptionAggregateDifferencesLoansAndLongTermReceivables
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= met_ResidentialLoansHeldForInvestmentMember
Carrying value at estimated fair value 329us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= met_ResidentialLoansHeldForInvestmentMember
308us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= met_ResidentialLoansHeldForInvestmentMember
Loans in non-accrual status $ 162us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssetsAggregateAmountInNonaccrualStatus
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= met_ResidentialLoansHeldForInvestmentMember
$ 125us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssetsAggregateAmountInNonaccrualStatus
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= met_ResidentialLoansHeldForInvestmentMember