Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $329,203 and $334,780, respectively; includes $4,293 and $4,266, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	$ 351,578	$ 365,425
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $3,096 and $3,076, respectively)	3,399	3,631
Fair value option and trading securities, at estimated fair value (includes $696 and $704, respectively, of actively traded securities; and $14 and $60, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	15,361	16,689
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $311 and $305, respectively; includes $290 and $280, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities; includes $315 and $308, respectively, under the fair value option)	63,553	60,118
Policy loans (includes $4 and $3, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,549	11,618
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $0 and $8, respectively, relating to variable interest entities; includes $905 and $172, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	9,923	10,525
Other limited partnership interests (includes $27 and $34, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,901	8,085
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $26 and $20, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	14,957	8,621
Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value (includes $43 and $56, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	23,356	21,283
Total investments	501,577	505,995
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $48 and $57, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	10,216	10,808
Accrued investment income (includes $26 and $21, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	4,187	4,120
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $21 and $21, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	25,808	22,244
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired (includes $230 and $235, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	23,996	24,442
Goodwill	9,546	9,872
Other assets (includes $146 and $134, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,881	7,862
Separate account assets (includes $1,056 and $1,128, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	299,249	316,994
Total assets	882,460	902,337
Liabilities
Future policy benefits (includes $670 and $579, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	190,754	189,586
Policyholder account balances (includes $21 and $33, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	202,291	209,294
Other policy-related balances (includes $225 and $198, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	14,521	14,422
Policyholder dividends payable	716	684
Policyholder dividend obligation	2,309	3,155
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	37,991	35,326
Short-term debt	100	100
Long-term debt (includes $162 and $151, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	16,755	16,286
Collateral financing arrangements	4,152	4,196
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,194	3,193
Current income tax payable	21	184
Deferred income tax liability	11,363	11,821
Other liabilities (includes $71 and $80, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	27,977	24,437
Separate account liabilities (includes $1,056 and $1,128, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	299,249	316,994
Total liabilities	$ 811,393	$ 829,678
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 14)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in partially-owned consolidated subsidiaries	$ 79	$ 99
MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; $2,100 aggregate liquidation preference	0	1
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized; 1,159,310,431 and 1,153,998,144 shares issued, respectively; 1,114,764,365 and 1,131,927,894 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	30,726	30,543
Retained earnings	35,153	32,020
Treasury stock, at cost; 44,546,066 and 22,070,250 shares, respectively	(2,279)	(1,172)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	6,891	10,649
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	70,503	72,053
Noncontrolling interests	485	507
Total equity	70,988	72,560
Total liabilities and equity	$ 882,460	$ 902,337