Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $343,412 and $332,964, respectively; includes $3,396 and $4,277, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	$ 371,981	$ 351,402
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $3,010 and $2,997, respectively)	3,374	3,321
Fair value option and trading securities, at estimated fair value (includes $360 and $404, respectively, of actively traded securities; and $10 and $13, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	14,993	15,024
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $381 and $318, respectively; includes $169 and $172, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities; includes $392 and $314, respectively, under the fair value option)	68,651	67,102
Policy loans (includes $0 and $4, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,257	11,258
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $47 and $47, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	8,733	8,433
Other limited partnership interests (includes $27 and $27, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,022	7,096
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $26, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,621	9,299
Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value (includes $43 and $43, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	27,095	22,524
Total investments	524,727	495,459
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $18 and $85, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	13,290	12,752
Accrued investment income (includes $1 and $23, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	4,198	3,988
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $3 and $21, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	27,843	22,702
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired (includes $0 and $240, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	23,973	24,130
Current income tax recoverable	125	161
Goodwill	9,729	9,477
Other assets (includes $3 and $148, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,496	7,666
Separate account assets (includes $0 and $1,022, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	306,047	301,598
Total assets	917,428	877,933
Liabilities
Future policy benefits (includes $0 and $716, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	196,967	191,879
Policyholder account balances (includes $0 and $21, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	207,593	202,722
Other policy-related balances (includes $0 and $238, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	14,435	14,255
Policyholder dividends payable	706	720
Policyholder dividend obligation	2,586	1,783
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	41,165	36,871
Short-term debt	100	100
Long-term debt (includes $55 and $63, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	17,915	18,023
Collateral financing arrangements	4,127	4,139
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,168	3,194
Deferred income tax liability	13,776	10,592
Other liabilities (includes $0 and $81, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	32,878	23,561
Separate account liabilities (includes $0 and $1,022, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	306,047	301,598
Total liabilities	$ 841,463	$ 809,437
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 13)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in partially-owned consolidated subsidiaries	$ 0	$ 77
MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; $2,100 aggregate liquidation preference	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized; 1,161,534,632 and 1,159,590,766 shares issued, respectively; 1,098,526,527 and 1,098,028,525 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	30,769	30,749
Retained earnings	37,301	35,519
Treasury stock, at cost; 63,008,105 and 61,562,241 shares, respectively	(3,172)	(3,102)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	10,865	4,771
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	75,775	67,949
Noncontrolling interests	190	470
Total equity	75,965	68,419
Total liabilities and equity	$ 917,428	$ 877,933