Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $353,913 and $332,964, respectively; includes $3,533 and $4,277, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	$ 390,442	$ 351,402
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $2,838 and $2,997, respectively)	3,289	3,321
Fair value option and trading securities, at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $404, respectively, of actively traded securities; and $9 and $13, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	14,730	15,024
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $330 and $318, respectively; includes $143 and $172, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities; includes $481 and $314, respectively, under the fair value option)	71,156	67,102
Policy loans (includes $0 and $4, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,177	11,258
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $33 and $47, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	9,186	8,433
Other limited partnership interests (includes $15 and $27, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	6,878	7,096
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $26, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,655	9,299
Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value (includes $31 and $43, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	30,278	22,524
Total investments	548,791	495,459
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $85, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	15,883	12,752
Accrued investment income (includes $1 and $23, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	4,197	3,988
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $4 and $21, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	26,178	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	0	161
Goodwill	9,592	9,477
Other assets (includes $3 and $148, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,867	7,666
Separate account assets (includes $0 and $1,022, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	315,648	301,598
Total assets	952,904	877,933
Liabilities
Future policy benefits (includes $0 and $716, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	208,561	191,879
Policyholder account balances (includes $0 and $21, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	216,192	202,722
Other policy-related balances (includes $0 and $238, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	14,857	14,255
Policyholder dividends payable	763	720
Policyholder dividend obligation	3,352	1,783
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	44,422	36,871
Short-term debt	201	100
Long-term debt (includes $38 and $63, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	16,553	18,023
Collateral financing arrangements	4,084	4,139
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,168	3,194
Current income tax payable	151	0
Deferred income tax liability	14,359	10,592
Other liabilities (includes $0 and $81, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	32,127	23,561
Separate account liabilities (includes $0 and $1,022, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	315,648	301,598
Total liabilities	874,438	809,437
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 15)
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; 1,161,994,036 and 1,159,590,766 shares issued, respectively; 1,098,985,931 and 1,098,028,525 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	30,797	30,749
Retained earnings	37,054	35,519
Treasury stock, at cost; 63,008,105 and 61,562,241 shares, respectively	(3,172)	(3,102)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	13,595	4,771
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	78,286	67,949
Noncontrolling interests	180	470
Total equity	78,466	68,419
Total liabilities and equity	$ 952,904	$ 877,933