Goodwill (Goodwill) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill			$ 11,345
Accumulated impairment			(1,868)
Total goodwill, net			9,477
Dispositions			(42)
Impairment	$ (260)	$ 0	(260)	$ 0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other			417
Goodwill	11,720		11,720
Accumulated impairment	(2,128)		(2,128)
Total goodwill, net	9,592		9,592
U.S.
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill			1,451
Accumulated impairment			0
Total goodwill, net			1,451
Dispositions			0
Impairment			0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other			0
Goodwill	1,451		1,451
Accumulated impairment	0		0
Total goodwill, net	1,451		1,451
Asia
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill			4,508
Accumulated impairment			0
Total goodwill, net			4,508
Dispositions			0
Impairment			0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other			352
Goodwill	4,860		4,860
Accumulated impairment	0		0
Total goodwill, net	4,860		4,860
Latin America
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill			1,186
Accumulated impairment			0
Total goodwill, net			1,186
Dispositions			0
Impairment			0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other			64
Goodwill	1,250		1,250
Accumulated impairment	0		0
Total goodwill, net	1,250		1,250
EMEA
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill			1,143
Accumulated impairment			0
Total goodwill, net			1,143
Dispositions			0
Impairment			0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other			1
Goodwill	1,144		1,144
Accumulated impairment	0		0
Total goodwill, net	1,144		1,144
MetLife Holdings
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill			2,579
Accumulated impairment			(1,692)
Total goodwill, net			887
Dispositions			0
Impairment			0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other			0
Goodwill	2,579		2,579
Accumulated impairment	(1,692)		(1,692)
Total goodwill, net	887		887
Brighthouse Financial
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill			260
Accumulated impairment			0
Total goodwill, net			260
Dispositions			0
Impairment	(260)		(260)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other			0
Goodwill	260		260
Accumulated impairment	(260)		(260)
Total goodwill, net	0		0
Goodwill, impairment loss, net of tax	223		223
Corporate & Other
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill			218
Accumulated impairment			(176)
Total goodwill, net			42
Impairment			0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other			0
Goodwill	176		176
Accumulated impairment	(176)		(176)
Total goodwill, net	$ 0		0
Corporate & Other | MetLife U.S. Retail Advisor Force
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Dispositions			$ (42)