Goodwill (Goodwill) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	$ 11,740	$ 12,410	$ 11,886
Accumulated impairment	(1,868)	(1,868)
Total goodwill, net	9,872	10,542	9,953
Acquisitions (4)			1,141
Dispositions		(70)	(8)
Reduction of goodwill			(65)
Reduction of accumulated impairment			65
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(395)	(600)	(544)
Goodwill	11,345	11,740	12,410
Accumulated impairment	(1,868)	(1,868)	(1,868)
Total goodwill, net	9,477	9,872	10,542
MetLife Bank
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Accumulated impairment			(1,933)
Retail
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	3,125	3,125	3,125
Accumulated impairment	(1,692)	(1,692)	(1,692)
Total goodwill, net	1,433	1,433	1,433
Acquisitions (4)			0
Dispositions		0	0
Reduction of goodwill			0
Reduction of accumulated impairment			0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill	3,125	3,125	3,125
Accumulated impairment	(1,692)	(1,692)	(1,692)
Total goodwill, net	1,433	1,433	1,433
Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	138	138	138
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net	138	138	138
Acquisitions (4)			0
Dispositions		0	0
Reduction of goodwill			0
Reduction of accumulated impairment			0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill	138	138	138
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net	138	138	138
Corporate Benefit Funding
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	840	900	900
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net	840	900	900
Acquisitions (4)			0
Dispositions		(60)	0
Reduction of goodwill			0
Reduction of accumulated impairment			0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill	840	840	900
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net	840	840	900
Latin America
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	1,385	1,588	527
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net	1,385	1,588	527
Acquisitions (4)			1,140
Dispositions		0	0
Reduction of goodwill			0
Reduction of accumulated impairment			0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(199)	(203)	(79)
Goodwill	1,186	1,385	1,588
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net	1,186	1,385	1,588
Asia
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	4,615	4,898	5,387
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net	4,615	4,898	5,387
Acquisitions (4)			0
Dispositions		(3)	0
Reduction of goodwill			0
Reduction of accumulated impairment			0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(107)	(280)	(489)
Goodwill	4,508	4,615	4,898
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net	4,508	4,615	4,898
EMEA
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	1,232	1,356	1,339
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net	1,232	1,356	1,339
Acquisitions (4)			1
Dispositions		(7)	(8)
Reduction of goodwill			0
Reduction of accumulated impairment			0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(89)	(117)	24
Goodwill	1,143	1,232	1,356
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net	1,143	1,232	1,356
Corporate & Other
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	405	405	470
Accumulated impairment	(176)	(176)	(241)
Total goodwill, net	229	229	229
Acquisitions (4)			0
Dispositions		0	0
Reduction of goodwill			(65)
Reduction of accumulated impairment			65
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill	405	405	405
Accumulated impairment	(176)	(176)	(176)
Total goodwill, net	$ 229	$ 229	$ 229