Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $292,257 and $286,069, respectively)	$ 306,331	$ 308,931
Equity securities, at estimated fair value	1,483	2,513
Contractholder-directed equity securities and fair value option securities, at estimated fair value (includes $5 and $6, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	13,848	16,745
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $325 and $314, respectively; includes $405 and $520, respectively, under the fair value option)	70,852	68,731
Policy loans	9,702	9,669
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $630 and $25, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	9,741	9,637
Other limited partnership interests	5,985	5,708
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	3,853	4,870
Other invested assets (includes $453 and $125, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	17,017	17,263
Total investments	438,812	444,067
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $11 and $12, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	16,312	12,701
Accrued investment income	3,512	3,524
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $2 and $3, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	19,608	18,423
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	19,013	18,419
Goodwill	9,499	9,590
Other assets (includes $2 and $2, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	8,230	8,167
Separate account assets	191,347	205,001
Total assets	706,333	719,892
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	184,461	177,974
Policyholder account balances	182,493	182,518
Other policy-related balances	15,908	15,515
Policyholder dividends payable	695	682
Policyholder dividend obligation	792	2,121
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	27,030	25,723
Short-term debt	479	477
Long-term debt (includes $5 and $6, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	14,536	15,686
Collateral financing arrangement	1,085	1,121
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,146	3,144
Current income tax payable	222	311
Deferred income tax liability	5,377	6,767
Other liabilities (includes $4 and $3, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	24,930	23,982
Separate account liabilities	191,347	205,001
Total liabilities	652,501	661,022
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 15)
MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; $3,405 and $2,100 aggregate liquidation preference, respectively	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized; 1,170,816,195 and 1,168,710,101 shares issued, respectively; 1,000,153,999 and 1,043,588,396 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	32,454	31,111
Retained earnings	26,870	26,527
Treasury stock, at cost; 170,662,196 and 125,121,705 shares, respectively	(8,557)	(6,401)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	2,854	7,427
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	53,633	58,676
Noncontrolling interests	199	194
Total equity	53,832	58,870
Total liabilities and equity	$ 706,333	$ 719,892