Segment Information (Total Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets of disposed subsidiary	$ 0	$ 216,983
Total assets	720,515	898,764
U.S.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	258,651	253,683
Asia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	134,070	120,656
Latin America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	77,617	67,233
EMEA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	30,244	25,596
MetLife Holdings
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	185,054	184,276
Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 34,879	247,320
Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets of disposed subsidiary		$ 216,983