Separation - Disc Ops - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax	$ 2	$ (611)	$ 134	$ (2,152)
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation	(10)	(160)	(48)	(773)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income tax	12	(451)	182	(1,379)
Discontinued Operation, Separation Costs	(25)	0	(216)	0
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Gain (Loss) from Disposal of Discontinued Operation	(955)	0	(955)	0
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	(980)	0	(1,171)	0
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(968)	(451)	(989)	(1,379)
Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Income	27	8	150	31
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue	536	1,889	3,840	3,444
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Expense	108	710	853	1,068
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expenses	534	2,500	3,706	5,596
Discontinued Operation, Separation Costs	(64)	(51)	(470)	(108)
Impact of Separation [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Discontinued Operation, Separation Costs	(42)
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Gain (Loss) from Disposal of Discontinued Operation	42
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	(1,084)		(1,347)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(980)		(1,171)
Premiums | Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue	116	552	820	1,544
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees | Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue	320	955	2,201	2,799
Net investment income | Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue	243	857	1,783	2,384
Gain (Loss) on Investments | Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue	1	26	(53)	(60)
Net derivative gains (losses) | Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue	(171)	(509)	(1,061)	(3,254)
Policyholder benefits and claims | Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expenses	335	1,244	2,217	3,414
Interest credited to policyholder account balances | Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expenses	89	276	620	827
Policyholder dividend expense | Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expenses	2	10	16	27
Goodwill impairment | Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expenses	$ 0	$ 260	$ 0	$ 260