Investments (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale

The following table presents the fixed maturity and equity securities AFS by sector. Redeemable preferred stock is reported within U.S. corporate and foreign corporate fixed maturity securities and non-redeemable preferred stock is reported within equity securities. Included within fixed maturity securities are structured securities including residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”), asset-backed securities (“ABS”) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) (collectively, “Structured Securities”).

	March 31, 2017											December 31, 2016
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized							Estimated Fair Value		Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized							Estimated Fair Value
			Gains		Temporary Losses		OTTI Losses (1)							Gains		Temporary Losses		OTTI Losses (1)
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. corporate	$	94,491	$	7,337	$	915	$	—		$	100,913	$	94,558	$	7,351	$	1,056	$	—		$	100,853
U.S. government and agency	52,486		5,058		664		—			56,880		53,326		4,977		780		—			57,523
Foreign government	54,169		6,649		380		—			60,438		50,923		6,600		385		—			57,138
Foreign corporate	56,664		3,304		1,503		—			58,465		55,676		3,132		1,752		(1		)	57,057
RMBS	36,785		1,280		484		(23		)	37,604		36,293		1,244		554		(10		)	36,993
State and political subdivision	14,555		1,768		96		2			16,225		14,566		1,733		122		1			16,176
ABS	13,819		105		112		3			13,809		13,920		101		141		3			13,877
CMBS	11,016		276		99		(1		)	11,194		11,092		282		103		(1		)	11,272
Total fixed maturity securities	$	333,985	$	25,777	$	4,253	$	(19	)	$	355,528	$	330,354	$	25,420	$	4,893	$	(8	)	$	350,889
Equity securities:
Common stock	$	2,174	$	449	$	11	$	—		$	2,612	$	1,927	$	488	$	14	$	—		$	2,401
Non-redeemable preferred stock	745		43		23		—			765		817		25		49		—			793
Total equity securities	$	2,919	$	492	$	34	$	—		$	3,377	$	2,744	$	513	$	63	$	—		$	3,194

__________________

(1) Noncredit OTTI losses included in AOCI in an unrealized gain position are due to increases in estimated fair value subsequent to initial recognition of noncredit losses on such securities. See also “— Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses).”

Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities by contractual maturity date

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities, by contractual maturity date, were as follows at March 31, 2017:

	Due in One Year or Less		Due After One Year Through Five Years		Due After Five Years Through Ten Years		Due After Ten Years		Structured Securities		Total Fixed Maturity Securities
	(In millions)
Amortized cost	$	15,792	$	69,241	$	67,938	$	119,394	$	61,620	$	333,985
Estimated fair value	$	15,902	$	72,487	$	70,860	$	133,672	$	62,607	$	355,528

Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale

The following table presents the estimated fair value and gross unrealized losses of fixed maturity and equity securities AFS in an unrealized loss position, aggregated by sector and by length of time that the securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at:

	March 31, 2017								December 31, 2016
	Less than 12 Months				Equal to or Greater than 12 Months				Less than 12 Months				Equal to or Greater than 12 Months
	Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses
	(Dollars in millions)
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. corporate	$	15,249	$	570	$	3,480	$	345	$	16,147	$	656	$	3,684	$	400
U.S. government and agency	15,624		637		152		27		13,500		760		141		20
Foreign government	6,449		275		965		105		6,228		271		924		114
Foreign corporate	10,099		480		6,272		1,023		11,613		639		6,127		1,112
RMBS	12,886		356		2,154		105		12,943		403		2,618		141
State and political subdivision	2,215		87		93		11		2,636		114		85		9
ABS	2,054		19		2,184		96		2,702		33		2,789		111
CMBS	2,515		37		753		61		2,570		48		735		54
Total fixed maturity securities	$	67,091	$	2,461	$	16,053	$	1,773	$	68,339	$	2,924	$	17,103	$	1,961
Equity securities:
Common stock	256		10		$	9	$	1	$	105	$	14	$	11	$	—
Non-redeemable preferred stock	97		1		159		22		196		9		165		40
Total equity securities	$	353	$	11	$	168	$	23	$	301	$	23	$	176	$	40
Total number of securities in an unrealized loss position	4,811				1,737				5,321				1,790

Disclosure of Mortgage Loans Net of Valuation Allowance

Mortgage loans are summarized as follows at:

	March 31, 2017					December 31, 2016
	Carrying Value			% of Total		Carrying Value			% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Mortgage loans:
Commercial	$	49,101		64.1	%	$	48,035		64.4	%
Agricultural	14,754			19.3		14,456			19.4
Residential	12,271			16.1		11,696			15.7
Subtotal (1)	76,126			99.5		74,187			99.5
Valuation allowances	(353		)	(0.5	)	(344		)	(0.5	)
Subtotal mortgage loans, net	75,773			99.0		73,843			99.0
Residential — FVO	639			0.8		566			0.8
Commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs — FVO	129			0.2		136			0.2
Total mortgage loans, net	$	76,541		100.0	%	$	74,545		100.0	%

__________________

(1) Purchases of mortgage loans were$923 millionand$292 millionfor thethree months endedMarch 31, 2017and2016, respectively.

Disclosure of mortgage loans held-for-investment and valuation allowances by method of evaluation for credit loss

Mortgage loans by portfolio segment, by method of evaluation of credit loss, impaired mortgage loans including those modified in a troubled debt restructuring, and the related valuation allowances, were as follows at:

	Evaluated Individually for Credit Losses										Evaluated Collectively for Credit Losses				Impaired Loans
	Impaired Loans with a Valuation Allowance						Impaired Loans without a Valuation Allowance
	Unpaid Principal Balance		Recorded Investment		Valuation Allowances		Unpaid Principal Balance		Recorded Investment		Recorded Investment		Valuation Allowances		Carrying Value
	(In millions)
March 31, 2017
Commercial	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	12	$	12	$	49,089	$	240	$	12
Agricultural	15		13		1		4		4		14,737		44		16
Residential	—		—		—		293		266		12,005		68		266
Total	$	15	$	13	$	1	$	309	$	282	$	75,831	$	352	$	294
December 31, 2016
Commercial	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	12	$	12	$	48,023	$	234	$	12
Agricultural	15		13		1		27		27		14,416		43		39
Residential	—		—		—		266		242		11,454		66		242
Total	$	15	$	13	$	1	$	305	$	281	$	73,893	$	343	$	293

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, Provision for Loss, Net

The changes in the valuation allowance, by portfolio segment, were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017										2016
	Commercial		Agricultural		Residential			Total			Commercial		Agricultural			Residential			Total
	(In millions)
Balance, beginning of period	$	234	$	44	$	66		$	344		$	217	$	42		$	59		$	318
Provision (release)	6		1		6			13			64		—			4			68
Charge-offs, net of recoveries	—		—		(4		)	(4		)	—		(2		)	(3		)	(5		)
Balance, end of period	$	240	$	45	$	68		$	353		$	281	$	40		$	60		$	381

Schedule of Financing Receivables, Non Accrual Status

The past due and nonaccrual mortgage loans at recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by portfolio segment, were as follows at:

	Past Due				Greater than 90 Days Past Due and Still Accruing Interest				Nonaccrual
	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016		March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016		March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
	(In millions)
Commercial	$	5	$	3	$	—	$	3	$	—	$	—
Agricultural	116		127		108		104		10		23
Residential	345		392		—		37		319		355
Total	$	466	$	522	$	108	$	144	$	329	$	378

Components of net unrealized investment gains (losses) included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

The components of net unrealized investment gains (losses), included in AOCI, were as follows:

	March 31, 2017			December 31, 2016
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities	$	21,334		$	20,300
Fixed maturity securities with noncredit OTTI losses included in AOCI	19			8
Total fixed maturity securities	21,353			20,308
Equity securities	521			485
Derivatives	2,904			2,923
Other	196			23
Subtotal	24,974			23,739
Amounts allocated from:
Future policy benefits	(1,336		)	(1,114		)
DAC and VOBA related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	(3		)	(3		)
DAC, VOBA and DSI	(1,481		)	(1,430		)
Policyholder dividend obligation	(1,983		)	(1,931		)
Subtotal	(4,803		)	(4,478		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	(5		)	(1		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(6,971		)	(6,623		)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	13,195			12,637
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6		)	(6		)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to MetLife, Inc.	$	13,189		$	12,631

The changes in net unrealized investment gains (losses) were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
	(In millions)
Balance, beginning of period	$	12,631
Fixed maturity securities on which noncredit OTTI losses have been recognized	11
Unrealized investment gains (losses) during the period	1,224
Unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to:
Future policy benefits	(222		)
DAC and VOBA related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	—
DAC, VOBA and DSI	(51		)
Policyholder dividend obligation	(52		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	(4		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(348		)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	13,189
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests	—
Balance, end of period	$	13,189
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses)	$	558
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests	—
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to MetLife, Inc.	$	558

Securities Lending

Elements of the securities lending program are presented below at:

	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
	(In millions)
Securities on loan: (1)
Amortized cost	$	24,235	$	24,692
Estimated fair value	$	25,951	$	26,308
Cash collateral received from counterparties (2)	$	26,527	$	26,755
Security collateral received from counterparties (3)	$	15	$	46
Reinvestment portfolio — estimated fair value	$	26,726	$	26,704

__________________

(1) Included within fixed maturity securities.

(2) Included within payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions.

(3) Security collateral received from counterparties may not be sold or re-pledged, unless the counterparty is in default, and is not reflected on the consolidated financial statements.

The cash collateral liability by loaned security type and remaining tenor of the agreements was as follows at:

	March 31, 2017								December 31, 2016
	Remaining Tenor of Securities Lending Agreements								Remaining Tenor of Securities Lending Agreements
	Open (1)		1 Month or Less		1 to 6 Months		Total		Open (1)		1 Month or Less		1 to 6 Months		Total
	(In millions)
Cash collateral liability by loaned security type:
U.S. government and agency	$	6,248	$	7,153	$	11,623	$	25,024	$	6,608	$	8,403	$	10,125	$	25,136
Foreign government	—		676		—		676		—		620		144		764
U.S. corporate	—		512		—		512		—		523		—		523
Agency RMBS	—		257		—		257		—		—		274		274
Foreign corporate	—		58		—		58		—		58		—		58
Total	$	6,248	$	8,656	$	11,623	$	26,527	$	6,608	$	9,604	$	10,543	$	26,755

__________________

(1) The related loaned security could be returned to the Company on the next business day which would require the Company to immediately return the cash collateral.

Repurchase Agreements

Elements of the short-term repurchase agreements are presented below at:

	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
	(In millions)
Securities on loan: (1)
Amortized cost	$	1,367	$	98
Estimated fair value	$	1,432	$	113
Cash collateral received from counterparties (2)	$	1,400	$	102
Reinvestment portfolio — estimated fair value	$	1,409	$	100

__________________

(1) Included within fixed maturity securities.

(2) Included within payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions and other liabilities.

The cash collateral liability by loaned security type and remaining tenor of the agreements was as follows at:

	March 31, 2017						December 31, 2016
	Remaining Tenor of Repurchase Agreements						Remaining Tenor of Repurchase Agreements
	1 Month or Less		1 to 6  Months		Total		1 Month or Less		1 to 6 Months		Total
	(In millions)
Cash collateral liability by loaned security type:
U.S. government and agency	$	1,305	$	—	$	1,305	$	5	$	—	$	5
Foreign government and corporate	43		52		95		46		51		97
Total	$	1,348	$	52	$	1,400	$	51	$	51	$	102

Invested Assets on Deposit, Held in Trust and Pledged as Collateral

Invested assets on deposit, held in trust and pledged as collateral are presented below at estimated fair value for all asset classes, except mortgage loans, which are presented at carrying value at:

	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
	(In millions)
Invested assets on deposit (regulatory deposits)	$	9,710	$	9,573
Invested assets held in trust (collateral financing arrangements and reinsurance agreements)	10,882		11,111
Invested assets pledged as collateral (1)	28,100		27,431
Total invested assets on deposit, held in trust and pledged as collateral	$	48,692	$	48,115

__________________

(1) The Company has pledged invested assets in connection with various agreements and transactions, including funding agreements (see Notes 4 and 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2016 Annual Report), collateral financing arrangements (see Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2016 Annual Report) and derivative transactions (see Note 6). See Note 14 for subsequent information on the collateral financing arrangement termination.

The Components of Net Investment Income

The components of net investment income were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Investment income:
Fixed maturity securities	$	3,420	$	3,654
Equity securities	34		37
FVO securities — FVO general account securities (1)	29		6
Mortgage loans	845		807
Policy loans	145		149
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	165		157
Other limited partnership interests	297		46
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	59		40
Operating joint ventures	2		12
Other	79		41
Subtotal	5,075		4,949
Less: Investment expenses	297		296
Subtotal, net	4,778		4,653
FVO securities — FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments (1)	416		(97		)
FVO CSEs — interest income — commercial mortgage loans	2		3
Subtotal	418		(94		)
Net investment income	$	5,196	$	4,559

__________________

(1) Changes in estimated fair value subsequent to purchase for securities still held as of the end of the respective periods included in net investment income were$340 millionand($186) millionfor thethree months endedMarch 31, 2017and2016, respectively. The amount for the three months ended March 31, 2016 included($4) millionrelated to actively traded securities.

The components of net investment gains (losses)

The components of net investment gains (losses) were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Total gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities:
Total OTTI losses recognized — by sector and industry:
U.S. and foreign corporate securities — by industry:
Industrial	$	—		$	(71	)
Communications	—			(3		)
Total U.S. and foreign corporate securities	—			(74		)
RMBS	—			(4		)
OTTI losses on fixed maturity securities recognized in earnings	—			(78		)
Fixed maturity securities — net gains (losses) on sales and disposals	(40		)	98
Total gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities	(40		)	20
Total gains (losses) on equity securities:
Total OTTI losses recognized — by sector:
Common stock	(7		)	(51		)
Non-redeemable preferred stock	(1		)	—
OTTI losses on equity securities recognized in earnings	(8		)	(51		)
Equity securities — net gains (losses) on sales and disposals	43			6
Total gains (losses) on equity securities	35			(45		)
Mortgage loans	(15		)	(64		)
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	(1		)	2
Other limited partnership interests	(17		)	(27		)
Other	(58		)	(18		)
Subtotal	(96		)	(132		)
FVO CSEs:
Commercial mortgage loans	(1		)	1
Securities	—			1
Long-term debt — related to commercial mortgage loans	1			—
Non-investment portfolio gains (losses)	104			145
Subtotal	104			147
Total net investment gains (losses)	$	8		$	15

Proceeds from sales or disposals of fixed maturity and equity securities and the components of fixed maturity and equity securities net investment gains and losses

Proceeds from sales or disposals of fixed maturity and equity securities and the components of fixed maturity and equity securities net investment gains (losses) were as shown in the table below.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
	Fixed Maturity Securities						Equity Securities
	(In millions)
Proceeds	$	16,437		$	31,994		$	120		$	59
Gross investment gains	$	150		$	433		$	47		$	11
Gross investment losses	(190		)	(335		)	(4		)	(5		)
OTTI losses	—			(78		)	(8		)	(51		)
Net investment gains (losses)	$	(40	)	$	20		$	35		$	(45	)

Rollforward of the Cumulative Credit Loss Component of OTTI income (loss)

The table below presents a rollforward of the cumulative credit loss component of OTTI loss recognized in earnings on fixed maturity securities still held for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Balance, beginning of period	$	215		$	277
Additions:
Additional impairments — credit loss OTTI on securities previously impaired	—			2
Reductions:
Sales (maturities, pay downs or prepayments) of securities previously impaired as credit loss OTTI	(36		)	(9		)
Balance, end of period	$	179		$	270

Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Schedule of Variable Interest Entities [Table Text Block]

The following table presents the total assets and total liabilities relating to VIEs for which the Company has concluded that it is the primary beneficiary and which are consolidated at:

	March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
	Total Assets		Total Liabilities		Total Assets		Total Liabilities
	(In millions)
MRSC (collateral financing arrangement) (1)	$	3,423	$	—	$	3,422	$	—
CSEs (assets (primarily loans) and liabilities (primarily debt)) (2)	142		32		146		35
Other investments (3)	50		—		50		—
Total	$	3,615	$	32	$	3,618	$	35

__________________

(1) See Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2016 Annual Report for a description of the MetLife Reinsurance Company of South Carolina (“MRSC”) collateral financing arrangement. See Note 14. The assets consist of fixed maturity securities, short-term investments and cash equivalents.

(2) The Company consolidates entities that are structured as CMBS and as collateralized debt obligations. The assets of these entities can only be used to settle their respective liabilities, and under no circumstances is the Company liable for any principal or interest shortfalls should any arise.

(3) Other investments is comprised of other invested assets and other limited partnership interests.

Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Schedule of Variable Interest Entities [Table Text Block]

The carrying amount and maximum exposure to loss relating to VIEs in which the Company holds a significant variable interest but is not the primary beneficiary and which have not been consolidated were as follows at:

	March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
	Carrying Amount		Maximum Exposure to Loss (1)		Carrying Amount		Maximum Exposure to Loss (1)
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities AFS:
Structured Securities (2)	$	60,301	$	60,301	$	59,773	$	59,773
U.S. and foreign corporate	2,926		2,926		2,845		2,845
Other limited partnership interests	5,938		11,408		6,208		11,282
Other invested assets	2,262		2,783		2,261		2,837
Other (3)	375		394		252		271
Total	$	71,802	$	77,812	$	71,339	$	77,008

__________________

(1) The maximum exposure to loss relating to fixed maturity securities AFS and equity securities AFS is equal to their carrying amounts or the carrying amounts of retained interests. The maximum exposure to loss relating to other limited partnership interests, mortgage loans and real estate joint ventures is equal to the carrying amounts plus any unfunded commitments. For certain of its investments in other invested assets, the Company’s return is in the form of income tax credits which are guaranteed by creditworthy third parties. For such investments, the maximum exposure to loss is equal to the carrying amounts plus any unfunded commitments, reduced by income tax credits guaranteed by third parties of $139 million and $150 million at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Such a maximum loss would be expected to occur only upon bankruptcy of the issuer or investee.

(2) For these variable interests, the Company’s involvement is limited to that of a passive investor in mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities issued by trusts that do not have substantial equity.

(3) Other is comprised of mortgage loans, common stock, non-redeemable preferred stock and real estate joint ventures.

Commercial

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]

Disclosure of the mortgage loans portfolio segment by the recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by credit quality indicator categories

The credit quality of commercial mortgage loans was as follows at:

	Recorded Investment										Estimated Fair Value		% of Total
	Debt Service Coverage Ratios								% of Total
	> 1.20x		1.00x - 1.20x		< 1.00x		Total
	(Dollars in millions)
March 31, 2017
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	42,831	$	1,802	$	526	$	45,159	92.0	%	$	45,892	92.2	%
65% to 75%	3,319		8		211		3,538		7.2		3,508		7.0
76% to 80%	146		—		—		146		0.3		130		0.3
Greater than 80%	141		41		76		258		0.5		250		0.5
Total	$	46,437	$	1,851	$	813	$	49,101	100	%	$	49,780	100	%
December 31, 2016
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	41,811	$	1,307	$	874	$	43,992	91.6	%	$	44,459	91.8	%
65% to 75%	3,335		—		221		3,556		7.4		3,488		7.2
76% to 80%	229		—		—		229		0.5		215		0.5
Greater than 80%	142		41		75		258		0.5		250		0.5
Total	$	45,517	$	1,348	$	1,170	$	48,035	100.0	%	$	48,412	100.0	%

Agricultural

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]

Disclosure of the mortgage loans portfolio segment by the recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by credit quality indicator categories

The credit quality of agricultural mortgage loans was as follows at:

	March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
	Recorded Investment		% of Total		Recorded Investment		% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	14,069	95.3	%	$	13,872	96.0	%
65% to 75%	621		4.2		479		3.3
76% to 80%	9		0.1		17		0.1
Greater than 80%	55		0.4		88		0.6
Total	$	14,754	100.0	%	$	14,456	100.0	%

Residential

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]

Disclosure of the mortgage loans portfolio segment by the recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by credit quality indicator categories

The credit quality of residential mortgage loans was as follows at:

	March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
	Recorded Investment		% of Total		Recorded Investment		% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Performance indicators:
Performing	$	11,926	97.2	%	$	11,304	96.6	%
Nonperforming	345		2.8		392		3.4
Total	$	12,271	100.0	%	$	11,696	100.0	%