Equity (Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net investment gains (losses)	$ (606)	$ 231	$ (439)	$ 598
Net derivative gains (losses)	(190)	(543)	(663)	1,438
Net investment income	4,295	4,609	12,909	12,527
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(968)	(451)	(989)	(1,379)
Other expenses	(3,318)	(3,216)	(9,904)	(10,296)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	501	1,159	2,482	5,522
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	392	(135)	148	(1,253)
Net income (loss)	(75)	573	1,641	2,890
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	411	141	681	246
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses), Net of Related Offsets
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net investment gains (losses)	303	113	386	317
Net derivative gains (losses)	55	(1)	(89)	21
Net investment income	(1)	4	0	23
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	360	173	211	339
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(126)	(60)	(73)	(114)
Net income (loss)	234	113	138	225
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	307	94	965	174
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(107)	(30)	(336)	(55)
Net income (loss)	200	64	629	119
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives | Interest rate swaps
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net derivative gains (losses)	9	28	23	44
Net investment income	5	3	12	9
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives | Interest rate forwards
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net derivative gains (losses)	(1)	0	(5)	0
Net investment income	0	0	2	2
Other expenses	0	0	1	1
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives | Foreign currency swaps
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net derivative gains (losses)	294	54	915	90
Net investment income	0	0	(1)	(1)
Other expenses	0	0	1	1
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives | Credit forwards
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net derivative gains (losses)	0	0	1	3
Net investment income	0	1	0	1
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amortization of net actuarial gains (losses)	(46)	(47)	(143)	(150)
Amortization of prior service (costs) credit	6	1	18	5
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(40)	(46)	(125)	(145)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	17	10	39	47
Net income (loss)	(23)	(36)	(86)	(98)
Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net investment gains (losses)	(1,016)
Brighthouse Financial, Inc | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses), Net of Related Offsets
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3	57	(86)	(22)
Brighthouse Financial, Inc | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives | Interest rate swaps
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	1	2	14
Brighthouse Financial, Inc | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives | Interest rate forwards
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	2	3	4
Brighthouse Financial, Inc | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives | Foreign currency swaps
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 0	$ 5	$ 11	$ 6