Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $330,354 and $332,964, respectively; includes $3,422 and $4,277, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	$ 350,889	$ 351,402
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $2,744 and $2,997, respectively)	3,194	3,321
Fair value option and trading securities, at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $404, respectively, of actively traded securities; and $8 and $13, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	13,923	15,024
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $344 and $318, respectively; includes $136 and $172, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities; includes $566 and $314, respectively, under the fair value option)	74,545	67,102
Policy loans (includes $0 and $4, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,028	11,258
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $59 and $47, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	9,041	8,433
Other limited partnership interests (includes $14 and $27, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	6,778	7,096
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $26, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,810	9,299
Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value (includes $31 and $43, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	23,185	22,524
Total investments	500,393	495,459
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $1 and $85, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	17,877	12,752
Accrued investment income (includes $1 and $23, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	3,988	3,988
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $2 and $21, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	26,081	22,702
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired (includes $0 and $240, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	24,798	24,130
Current income tax recoverable	20	161
Goodwill	9,220	9,477
Other assets (includes $3 and $148, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,767	7,666
Separate account assets (includes $0 and $1,022, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	308,620	301,598
Total assets	898,764	877,933
Liabilities
Future policy benefits (includes $0 and $716, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	199,971	191,879
Policyholder account balances (includes $0 and $21, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	210,235	202,722
Other policy-related balances (includes $0 and $238, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	14,386	14,255
Policyholder dividends payable	708	720
Policyholder dividend obligation	1,931	1,783
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	33,264	36,871
Short-term debt	242	100
Long-term debt (includes $35 and $63, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	16,502	18,023
Collateral financing arrangements	4,071	4,139
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,169	3,194
Deferred income tax liability	9,367	10,592
Other liabilities (includes $0 and $81, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	28,818	23,561
Separate account liabilities (includes $0 and $1,022, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	308,620	301,598
Total liabilities	831,284	809,437
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 21)
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; 1,164,029,985 and 1,159,590,766 shares issued, respectively; 1,095,519,005 and 1,098,028,525 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	30,944	30,749
Retained earnings	34,480	35,519
Treasury stock, at cost; 68,510,980 and 61,562,241 shares, respectively	(3,474)	(3,102)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	5,347	4,771
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	67,309	67,949
Noncontrolling interests	171	470
Total equity	67,480	68,419
Total liabilities and equity	$ 898,764	$ 877,933