Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Prior Period Adjustment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

Schedule of Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments [Table Text Block]

A summary of the revisions to prior period net income (loss) available to MetLife, Inc.’s common shareholders is shown in the table below:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2016			2015
	(In millions)
Assumed variable annuity guarantee reserves	$	184		$	80
Group annuity reserves	(33		)	(31		)
Other revisions to continuing operations, net	(10		)	(106		)
Impact to income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income tax	141			(57		)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit) (1)	27			(110		)
Impact to income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income tax	114			53
Other revisions to discontinued operations, net of income tax (1)	(64		)	10
Impact to net income (loss) available to MetLife, Inc.’s common shareholders	$	50		$	63

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(1) Includes impact of certain tax-specific revisions.

The impact of the revisions is shown in the tables below:

	December 31, 2016
Consolidated Balance Sheets	As Previously Reported		Revisions			As Revised
	(In millions)
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	$	166,701	$	(65	)	$	166,636
Policyholder account balances	$	173,168	$	(682	)	$	172,486
Other policy-related balances	$	13,030	$	372		$	13,402
Deferred income tax liability	$	6,774	$	118		$	6,892
Other liabilities	$	23,700	$	35		$	23,735
Total liabilities	$	831,284	$	(222	)	$	831,062
Stockholders’ Equity
Retained earnings	$	34,480	$	203		$	34,683
Accumulated other comprehensive income	$	5,347	$	19		$	5,366
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	$	67,309	$	222		$	67,531
Total equity	$	67,480	$	222		$	67,702

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2016									2015
Consolidated Statements of Operations	As Previously Reported			Revisions			As Revised			As Previously Reported		Revisions			As Revised
	(In millions, except per share data)
Revenues
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	$	5,482		$	1		$	5,483		$	5,570	$	—		$	5,570
Net investment income	$	16,790		$	—		$	16,790		$	16,243	$	(38	)	$	16,205
Other net investment gains (losses)	$	412		$	12		$	424		$	705	$	(37	)	$	668
Total net investment gain (losses)	$	305		$	12		$	317		$	646	$	(37	)	$	609
Net derivatives gain (losses)	$	(874	)	184			$	(690	)	$	545	$	84		$	629
Total revenues	$	60,590		$	197		$	60,787		$	61,334	$	9		$	61,343
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims	$	36,316		$	42		$	36,358		$	35,102	$	42		$	35,144
Other expenses	$	13,735		$	14		$	13,749		$	14,753	$	24		$	14,777
Total expenses	$	56,450		$	56		$	56,506		$	55,626	$	66		$	55,692
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income tax	$	4,140		$	141		$	4,281		$	5,708	$	(57	)	$	5,651
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	$	666		$	27		$	693		$	1,700	$	(110	)	$	1,590
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income tax	$	3,474		$	114		$	3,588		$	4,008	$	53		$	4,061
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax	$	(2,670	)	$	(64	)	$	(2,734	)	$	1,314	$	10		$	1,324
Net income (loss)	$	804		$	50		$	854		$	5,322	$	63		$	5,385
Net income (loss)attributable to MetLife, Inc.	$	800		$	50		$	850		$	5,310	$	63		$	5,373
Net income (loss) available to MetLife, Inc.’s common shareholders	$	697		$	50		$	747		$	5,152	$	63		$	5,215
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income tax, available to MetLife, Inc.’s common shareholders per common share:
Basic	$	3.06		$	0.10		$	3.16		$	3.43	$	0.05		$	3.48
Diluted	$	3.04		$	0.09		$	3.13		$	3.40	$	0.04		$	3.44
Net income (loss) available to MetLife, Inc.’s common shareholders per common share:
Basic	$	0.63		$	0.05		$	0.68		$	4.61	$	0.06		$	4.67
Diluted	$	0.63		$	0.04		$	0.67		$	4.57	$	0.05		$	4.62

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2016									2015
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	As Previously Reported			Revisions			As Revised			As Previously Reported			Revisions			As Revised
	(In millions)
Net income (loss)	$	804		$	50		$	854		$	5,322		$	63		$	5,385
Unrealized investment gains (losses), net of related offsets	$	760		$	36		$	796		$	(7,443	)	$	(6	)	$	(7,449	)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income tax	$	1,101		$	36		$	1,137		$	(8,124	)	$	(6	)	$	(8,130	)
Income tax (expense) benefit related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(437	)	$	(13	)	$	(450	)	$	2,266		$	(63	)	$	2,203
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	$	664		$	23		$	687		$	(5,858	)	$	(69	)	$	(5,927	)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	1,468		$	73		$	1,541		$	(536	)	$	(6	)	$	(542	)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MetLife, Inc.	$	1,376		$	73		$	1,449		$	(568	)	$	(6	)	$	(574	)

Consolidated Statements of Equity	As Previously Reported			Revisions			As Revised
	(In millions)
Retained Earnings
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	32,020		$	90		$	32,110
Net income (loss)	$	5,310		$	63		$	5,373
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	35,519		$	153		$	35,672
Net income (loss)	$	800		$	50		$	850
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	34,480		$	203		$	34,683
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	10,649		$	65		$	10,714
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	$	(5,878	)	$	(69	)	$	(5,947	)
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	4,771		$	(4	)	$	4,767
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	$	576		$	23		$	599
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	5,347		$	19		$	5,366
Total MetLife, Inc.'s Stockholders' Equity
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	72,053		$	155		$	72,208
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	67,949		$	149		$	68,098
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	67,309		$	222		$	67,531
Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	72,560		$	155		$	72,715
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	68,419		$	149		$	68,568
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	67,480		$	222		$	67,702

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2016									2015
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	As Previously Reported			Revisions			As Revised			As Previously Reported			Revisions			As Revised
	(In millions)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$	804		$	50		$	854		$	5,322		$	63		$	5,385
(Gains) losses on investments and from sales of businesses, net	$	(171	)	$	(12	)	$	(183	)	$	(597	)	$	37		$	(560	)
(Gains) losses on derivatives, net	$	8,963		$	(184	)	$	8,779		$	1,451		$	(80	)	$	1,371
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	$	(9,206	)	$	(1	)	$	(9,207	)	$	(9,507	)	$	—		$	(9,507	)
Change in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	$	(2,125	)	$	(33	)	$	(2,158	)	$	(837	)	$	6		$	(831	)
Change in deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired, net	$	(949	)	$	12		$	(937	)	$	491		$	(3	)	$	488
Change in income tax	$	(1,557	)	$	35		$	(1,522	)	$	825		$	(110	)	$	715
Change in insurance-related liabilities and policy-related balances	$	6,279		$	42		$	6,321		$	6,366		$	42		$	6,408
Change in other liabilities	$	2,766		$	35		$	2,801		$	1,134		$	38		$	1,172
Other, net (1)	$	136		$	56		$	192		$	164		$	7		$	171

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(1) Excludes impact related to adoption during 2017 of stock-based compensation guidance which decreased Other, net by $53 million and $77 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. See “— Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements.”