Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $350,821 and $332,964, respectively; includes $3,548 and $4,277, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	$ 387,508	$ 351,402
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $2,914 and $2,997, respectively)	3,333	3,321
Fair value option and trading securities, at estimated fair value (includes $8 and $404, respectively, of actively traded securities; and $9 and $13, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	14,314	15,024
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $467 and $318, respectively; includes $159 and $172, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities; includes $449 and $314, respectively, under the fair value option)	69,399	67,102
Policy loans (includes $0 and $4, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,240	11,258
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $71 and $47, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	9,063	8,433
Other limited partnership interests (includes $15 and $27, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	6,982	7,096
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $26, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	9,838	9,299
Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value (includes $43 and $43, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	31,834	22,524
Total investments	543,511	495,459
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $16 and $85, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	17,067	12,752
Accrued investment income (includes $1 and $23, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	3,884	3,988
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $4 and $21, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	26,035	22,702
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired (includes $0 and $240, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	24,748	24,130
Current income tax recoverable	51	161
Goodwill	9,852	9,477
Other assets (includes $3 and $148, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,747	7,666
Separate account assets (includes $0 and $1,022, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	309,672	301,598
Total assets	942,567	877,933
Liabilities
Future policy benefits (includes $0 and $716, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	204,461	191,879
Policyholder account balances (includes $0 and $21, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	213,526	202,722
Other policy-related balances (includes $0 and $238, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	14,447	14,255
Policyholder dividends payable	734	720
Policyholder dividend obligation	3,343	1,783
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	45,790	36,871
Short-term debt	103	100
Long-term debt (includes $47 and $63, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	16,586	18,023
Collateral financing arrangements	4,113	4,139
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,168	3,194
Deferred income tax liability	14,966	10,592
Other liabilities (includes $0 and $81, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	32,285	23,561
Separate account liabilities (includes $0 and $1,022, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	309,672	301,598
Total liabilities	863,194	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; 1,161,802,382 and 1,159,590,766 shares issued, respectively; 1,098,794,277 and 1,098,028,525 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	30,783	30,749
Retained earnings	36,924	35,519
Treasury stock, at cost; 63,008,105 and 61,562,241 shares, respectively	(3,172)	(3,102)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	14,632	4,771
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	79,179	67,949
Noncontrolling interests	194	470
Total equity	79,373	68,419
Total liabilities and equity	$ 942,567	$ 877,933