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Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company) (Loans to Subsidiaries - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
1 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2017
Jul. 31, 2016
Apr. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2015
May 31, 2015
Apr. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2013
Jun. 01, 2017
Feb. 10, 2017
Jun. 30, 2016
Apr. 01, 2016
Parent Company                                
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company (Textuals) [Abstract]                                
Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates                 $ 100 $ 1,200     $ 750 $ 750   $ 140
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms     six-month LIBOR plus 1.00%                          
Advances To Affiliate Repayment   $ 140                            
Senior Notes                 14,599 15,505            
Loans to Subsidiaries, Repayment Amount                 0 140 $ 761          
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity                             $ 1,300  
Parent Company | Interest Income [Member]                                
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company (Textuals) [Abstract]                                
Loans to Subsidiaries, Interest Income                 $ 44 $ 64 91          
Parent Company | Surplus Note September 2032 [Member]                                
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company (Textuals) [Abstract]                                
Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates $ 750                              
Advances To Affiliate Instrument Interest Rate Effective Percentage 5.13%                              
Parent Company | Surplus Note December 2033 [Member]                                
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company (Textuals) [Abstract]                                
Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates $ 350                              
Advances To Affiliate Instrument Interest Rate Effective Percentage 6.00%                              
Parent Company | American Life $150 Million May 2015 [Member]                                
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company (Textuals) [Abstract]                                
Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates         $ 150                      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms         six-month LIBOR plus 1.00%                      
Advances To Affiliate Repayment       $ 150                        
Parent Company | American Life $150 Million April 2015 [Member]                                
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company (Textuals) [Abstract]                                
Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates           $ 150                    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms           six-month LIBOR plus 0.875%                    
Advances To Affiliate Repayment         $ 150                      
Parent Company | MetLife Ireland Treasury Limited loan from MetLife, Inc.                                
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company (Textuals) [Abstract]                                
Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates                       $ 1,500        
Advances To Affiliate Instrument Interest Rate Effective Percentage                       8.50%        
Loans to subsidiaries, maturity date                       Jul. 01, 2023        
Loans to Subsidiaries, Repayment Amount             $ 231 $ 153     $ 77          
Junior Subordinated Debt Instrument Two [Member]                                
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company (Textuals) [Abstract]                                
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date                 Apr. 08, 2068              
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis                 LIBOR + 5.540%              
Junior Subordinated Debt Instrument Two [Member] | Parent Company                                
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company (Textuals) [Abstract]                                
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date                 Apr. 08, 2068              
Senior Note Issued To Metlife Reinsurance Company Of Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes Affiliated December 2033 [Member] | Parent Company                                
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company (Textuals) [Abstract]                                
Senior Notes $ 350                              
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage 5.10%                              
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Dec. 31, 2033                              
Senior Note Issued To Metlife Reinsurance Company Of Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes Affiliated September 2032 [Member] | Parent Company                                
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company (Textuals) [Abstract]                                
Senior Notes $ 750                              
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage 4.21%                              
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Sep. 30, 2032