Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets
Amortized cost of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	$ 287,099	$ 286,069
Contractholder-directed equity securities and fair value option securities relating to variable interest entities	16,444	16,745
Mortgage loans valuation allowances	327	314
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate	71,055	68,731
Real estate held-for-sale	699	25
Other invested assets relating to variable interest entities	17,486	17,263
Cash and cash equivalents relating to variable interest entities	13,927	12,701
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables relating to variable interest entities	19,368	18,423
Other assets relating to variable interest entities	8,387	8,167
Liabilities
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	15,707	15,686
Other liabilities relating to variable interest entities	$ 24,013	$ 23,982
MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, aggregate liquidation preference	2,600	2,100
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	3,000,000,000	3,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	1,170,644,215	1,168,710,101
Common stock, shares outstanding	1,024,117,183	1,043,588,396
Treasury stock, shares	146,527,032	125,121,705
Residential mortgage loans - FVO
Assets
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate	$ 438	$ 520
Variable interest entities
Assets
Contractholder-directed equity securities and fair value option securities relating to variable interest entities	6	6
Other invested assets relating to variable interest entities	123	125
Cash and cash equivalents relating to variable interest entities	7	12
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables relating to variable interest entities	2	3
Other assets relating to variable interest entities	3	2
Liabilities
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	5	6
Other liabilities relating to variable interest entities	$ 2	$ 3