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Derivatives (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Estimated Fair Value Assets $ 14,406 $ 13,452  
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities 7,049 7,022  
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps 10,311 10,527  
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps 65 175  
Excess cash collateral received on derivatives 89 87  
Securities collateral received which the company is permitted to sell or repledge, amount that has been sold or repledged 0    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Net investment gains (losses) 597 (197) $ 161
Embedded derivatives gains (losses) (239) (321) 5,104
Derivative Instrument Detail [Abstract]      
Net amounts reclassified into net derivatives gains (losses) on discontinued cash flow hedges $ 11 $ (15) (1)
Hedging exposure to variability in future cash flows for specific length of time 5 years 6 years  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss $ 2,400 $ 1,800  
Deferred net gains (losses) expected to be reclassified to earnings 50    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) $ 0   0
Immateriality of cash flow effectiveness no    
Cumulative foreign currency translation gain (loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for net investment in foreign operations hedges $ 1,100 940  
Potential future recoveries available to offset maximum amount of future payments under credit default swaps 80 75  
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives 204 192  
Change in fair value of derivatives excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness (11) 3 (2)
Over the Counter [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Derivative Asset, Collateral, Obligation to Return Cash, Offset 6,140 4,153  
Excess securities collateral received on derivatives (100) (395)  
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives (150) (117)  
Exchange Cleared [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Derivative Asset, Collateral, Obligation to Return Cash, Offset 378 386  
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives (315) (199)  
Exchange Traded [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Derivative Asset, Collateral, Obligation to Return Cash, Offset 0 0  
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives (224) (245)  
Nonperformance Risk [Member]      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Embedded derivatives gains (losses) 163 13 $ (952)
Hedge Funds [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps 20 15  
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps (2) 1  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments | MetLife Assurance Limited      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Net investment gains (losses) (77) (77)  
Accrued Liabilities [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Estimated Fair Value Assets 278 255  
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities 41 60  
Off-Balance Sheet [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Excess cash collateral received on derivatives 0 36  
Off-Balance Sheet [Member] | Over the Counter [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Derivative Asset, Collateral, Obligation to Return Cash, Offset $ 0 $ 263