Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $286,684 and $271,701, respectively)	$ 308,894	$ 289,563
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $2,386 and $2,464, respectively)	2,776	2,894
Fair value option securities, at estimated fair value (includes $7 and $8, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	16,538	13,923
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $316 and $304, respectively; includes $564 and $566, respectively, under the fair value option)	68,057	65,167
Policy loans	9,585	9,511
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $61 and $59, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	9,486	8,891
Other limited partnership interests (includes $0 and $14, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	5,501	5,136
Short-term Investments	7,217	6,523
Other invested assets (includes $133 and $31, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	17,652	19,303
Total investments	445,706	420,911
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $9 and $1, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	13,023	12,651
Accrued investment income	3,692	3,308
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $3 and $2, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	18,588	15,445
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	18,399	17,590
Current income tax recoverable	3	20
Goodwill	9,556	9,220
Assets of disposed subsidiary	0	216,983
Other assets (includes $3 and $3, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	8,149	7,058
Separate account assets	203,399	195,578
Total assets	720,515	898,764
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	176,005	166,701
Policyholder account balances	182,513	173,168
Other policy-related balances	15,026	13,030
Policyholder dividends payable	730	696
Policyholder dividend obligation	2,201	1,931
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	27,132	25,873
Short-term debt	214	242
Long-term debt (includes $6 and $12, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	16,688	16,441
Collateral financing arrangements	1,220	1,274
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,144	3,169
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities	0	202,707
Deferred income tax liability	8,554	6,774
Other liabilities	26,745	23,700
Separate account liabilities	203,399	195,578
Total liabilities	663,571	831,284
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 14)
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; 1,167,535,225 and 1,164,029,985 shares issued, respectively; 1,054,286,620 and 1,095,519,005 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	31,066	30,944
Retained earnings	24,410	34,480
Treasury stock, at cost; 113,248,605 and 68,510,980 shares, respectively	(5,779)	(3,474)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	7,005	5,347
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	56,714	67,309
Noncontrolling interests	230	171
Total equity	56,944	67,480
Total liabilities and equity	$ 720,515	$ 898,764