Investments (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale

Equity securities are summarized as follows at:

	June 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Estimated Fair Value		% of Total		Estimated Fair Value		% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Equity securities:
Common stock	$	1,062	71.6	%	$	2,035	81.0	%
Non-redeemable preferred stock	421		28.4		478		19.0
Total equity securities	$	1,483	100.0	%	$	2,513	100.0	%

The following table presents the fixed maturity securities AFS by sector. Redeemable preferred stock is reported within U.S. corporate and foreign corporate fixed maturity securities. Included within fixed maturity securities AFS are structured securities including residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”), asset-backed securities (“ABS”) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) (collectively, “Structured Securities”).

	June 30, 2018											December 31, 2017
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized							Estimated Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized							Estimated Fair Value
			Gains		Temporary Losses		OTTI Losses (1)							Gains		Temporary Losses		OTTI Losses (1)
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. corporate	$	81,382	$	4,233	$	1,589	$	—		$	84,026	$	76,005	$	7,007	$	351	$	—		$	82,661
Foreign government	56,106		6,082		506		—			61,682		55,351		6,495		312		—			61,534
Foreign corporate	52,930		2,780		1,433		—			54,277		52,409		3,836		676		—			55,569
U.S. government and agency	42,701		3,229		543		—			45,387		43,446		4,227		279		—			47,394
RMBS	27,390		976		556		(35		)	27,845		27,846		1,145		233		(42		)	28,800
State and political subdivision	10,683		1,395		52		—			12,026		10,752		1,717		13		1			12,455
ABS	12,818		85		36		1			12,866		12,213		116		39		(1		)	12,291
CMBS	8,247		92		117		—			8,222		8,047		222		42		—			8,227
Total fixed maturity securities	$	292,257	$	18,872	$	4,832	$	(34	)	$	306,331	$	286,069	$	24,765	$	1,945	$	(42	)	$	308,931

__________________

(1) Noncredit OTTI losses included in AOCI in an unrealized gain position are due to increases in estimated fair value subsequent to initial recognition of noncredit losses on such securities. See also “— Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses).”

Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities by contractual maturity date

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities, by contractual maturity date, were as follows at June 30, 2018:

	Due in One Year or Less		Due After One Year Through Five Years		Due After Five Years Through Ten Years		Due After Ten Years		Structured Securities		Total Fixed Maturity Securities
	(In millions)
Amortized cost	$	13,437	$	59,285	$	61,369	$	109,711	$	48,455	$	292,257
Estimated fair value	$	13,456	$	60,971	$	63,077	$	119,894	$	48,933	$	306,331

Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale

The following table presents the estimated fair value and gross unrealized losses of fixed maturity securities AFS in an unrealized loss position, aggregated by sector and by length of time that the securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at:

	June 30, 2018								December 31, 2017
	Less than 12 Months				Equal to or Greater than 12 Months				Less than 12 Months				Equal to or Greater than 12 Months
	Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses
	(Dollars in millions)
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. corporate	$	29,888	$	1,145	$	4,227	$	444	$	5,604	$	92	$	4,115	$	259
Foreign government	5,007		258		2,960		248		4,234		83		3,251		229
Foreign corporate	14,309		865		4,676		568		4,422		99		6,802		577
U.S. government and agency	18,165		217		3,300		326		18,273		93		3,560		186
RMBS	11,604		307		3,537		214		6,359		50		4,159		141
State and political subdivision	1,064		31		299		21		182		2		346		12
ABS	4,588		17		445		20		1,695		7		729		31
CMBS	4,276		74		421		43		1,174		9		413		33
Total fixed maturity securities	$	88,901	$	2,914	$	19,865	$	1,884	$	41,943	$	435	$	23,375	$	1,468
Total number of securities in an unrealized loss position	6,572				1,881				2,598				1,955

Disclosure of Mortgage Loans Net of Valuation Allowance

Mortgage loans are summarized as follows at:

	June 30, 2018					December 31, 2017
	Carrying Value			% of Total		Carrying Value			% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Mortgage loans:
Commercial	$	46,075		65.0	%	$	44,375		64.6	%
Agricultural	13,293			18.8		13,014			18.9
Residential	11,404			16.1		11,136			16.2
Subtotal (1)	70,772			99.9		68,525			99.7
Valuation allowances	(325		)	(0.5	)	(314		)	(0.5	)
Subtotal mortgage loans, net	70,447			99.4		68,211			99.2
Residential — FVO	405			0.6		520			0.8
Total mortgage loans, net	$	70,852		100.0	%	$	68,731		100.0	%

__________________

(1) Purchases of mortgage loans, primarily residential mortgage loans, were$666 millionand$973 millionfor thethree monthsandsix months endedJune 30, 2018, respectively, and$742 millionand$1.5 billionfor thethree monthsandsix months endedJune 30, 2017, respectively.

Disclosure of mortgage loans held-for-investment and valuation allowances by method of evaluation for credit loss

Mortgage loans by portfolio segment, by method of evaluation of credit loss, impaired mortgage loans including those modified in a troubled debt restructuring, and the related valuation allowances, were as follows at:

	Evaluated Individually for Credit Losses										Evaluated Collectively for Credit Losses				Impaired Loans
	Impaired Loans with a Valuation Allowance						Impaired Loans without a Valuation Allowance
	Unpaid Principal Balance		Recorded Investment		Valuation Allowances		Unpaid Principal Balance		Recorded Investment		Recorded Investment		Valuation Allowances		Carrying Value
	(In millions)
June 30, 2018
Commercial	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	46,075	$	227	$	—
Agricultural	13		13		2		112		111		13,169		39		122
Residential	—		—		—		401		362		11,042		57		362
Total	$	13	$	13	$	2	$	513	$	473	$	70,286	$	323	$	484
December 31, 2017
Commercial	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	44,375	$	214	$	—
Agricultural	22		21		2		27		27		12,966		39		46
Residential	—		—		—		358		324		10,812		59		324
Total	$	22	$	21	$	2	$	385	$	351	$	68,153	$	312	$	370

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, Provision for Loss, Net

The changes in the valuation allowance, by portfolio segment, were as follows:

	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018										2017
	Commercial		Agricultural		Residential			Total			Commercial		Agricultural		Residential			Total
	(In millions)
Balance, beginning of period	$	214	$	41	$	59		$	314		$	202	$	39	$	63		$	304
Provision (release)	13		—		2			15			6		—		9			15
Charge-offs, net of recoveries	—		—		(4		)	(4		)	—		—		(7		)	(7		)
Balance, end of period	$	227	$	41	$	57		$	325		$	208	$	39	$	65		$	312

Schedule of Financing Receivables, Non Accrual Status

The past due and nonaccrual mortgage loans at recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by portfolio segment, were as follows at:

	Past Due				Greater than 90 Days Past Due and Still Accruing Interest				Nonaccrual
	June 30, 2018		December 31, 2017		June 30, 2018		December 31, 2017		June 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In millions)
Commercial	$	1	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	176	$	—
Agricultural	233		134		136		125		107		36
Residential	459		514		31		33		428		481
Total	$	693	$	648	$	167	$	158	$	711	$	517

Components of net unrealized investment gains (losses) included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

The components of net unrealized investment gains (losses), included in AOCI, were as follows:

	June 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities	$	13,918		$	22,645
Fixed maturity securities with noncredit OTTI losses included in AOCI	34			41
Total fixed maturity securities	13,952			22,686
Equity securities	—			421
Derivatives	1,547			1,453
Other	112			46
Subtotal	15,611			24,606
Amounts allocated from:
Future policy benefits	(132		)	(77		)
DAC, VOBA and DSI	(1,156		)	(1,768		)
Policyholder dividend obligation	(792		)	(2,121		)
Subtotal	(2,080		)	(3,966		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	(5		)	(12		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(3,814		)	(6,958		)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	9,712			13,670
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(9		)	(8		)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to MetLife, Inc.	$	9,703		$	13,662

The changes in net unrealized investment gains (losses) were as follows:

	Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
	(In millions)
Balance, beginning of period	$	13,662
Cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, net of income tax (Note 1)	1,258
Fixed maturity securities on which noncredit OTTI losses have been recognized	(7		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses) during the period	(8,563		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to:
Future policy benefits	(55		)
DAC, VOBA and DSI	612
Policyholder dividend obligation	1,329
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	7
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	1,461
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	9,704
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1		)
Balance, end of period	$	9,703
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses)	$	(3,958	)
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1		)
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to MetLife, Inc.	$	(3,959	)

Securities Lending

Elements of the Company’s securities lending program are presented below at:

	June 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In millions)
Securities on loan: (1)
Amortized cost	$	18,052	$	17,801
Estimated fair value	$	18,846	$	19,028
Cash collateral received from counterparties (2)	$	19,244	$	19,417
Security collateral received from counterparties (3)	$	47	$	19
Reinvestment portfolio — estimated fair value	$	19,374	$	19,508

__________________

(1) Included within fixed maturity securities and cash equivalents.

(2) Included within payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions.

(3) Security collateral received from counterparties may not be sold or re-pledged, unless the counterparty is in default, and is not reflected on the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

The cash collateral liability by loaned security type and remaining tenor of the agreements was as follows at:

	June 30, 2018								December 31, 2017
	Remaining Tenor of Securities Lending Agreements								Remaining Tenor of Securities Lending Agreements
	Open (1)		1 Month or Less		Over 1 to 6 Months		Total		Open (1)		1 Month or Less		Over 1 to 6 Months		Total
	(In millions)
Cash collateral liability by loaned security type:
U.S. government and agency	$	4,042	$	4,274	$	9,891	$	18,207	$	3,753	$	6,031	$	8,607	$	18,391
Foreign government	—		245		717		962		—		192		834		1,026
Agency RMBS	—		75		—		75		—		—		—		—
Total	$	4,042	$	4,594	$	10,608	$	19,244	$	3,753	$	6,223	$	9,441	$	19,417

__________________

(1) The related loaned security could be returned to the Company on the next business day which would require the Company to immediately return the cash collateral.

Repurchase Agreements

Elements of the Company’s short-term repurchase agreements are presented below at:

	June 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In millions)
Securities on loan: (1)
Amortized cost	$	2,519	$	994
Estimated fair value	$	2,622	$	1,141
Cash collateral received from counterparties (2)	$	2,560	$	1,102
Reinvestment portfolio — estimated fair value	$	2,568	$	1,102

__________________

(1) Included within fixed maturity securities, cash equivalents and short-term investments.

(2) Included within payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions and other liabilities.

The cash collateral liability by loaned security type and remaining tenor of the agreements was as follows at:

	June 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Remaining Tenor of Repurchase Agreements						Remaining Tenor of Repurchase Agreements
	1 Month or Less		Over 1 to 6 Months		Total		1 Month or Less		Over 1 to 6 Months		Total
	(In millions)
Cash collateral liability by loaned security type:
U.S. government and agency	$	2,465	$	—	$	2,465	$	1,005	$	—	$	1,005
All other corporate and government	44		51		95		44		53		97
Total	$	2,509	$	51	$	2,560	$	1,049	$	53	$	1,102

Invested Assets on Deposit, Held in Trust and Pledged as Collateral

Invested assets on deposit, held in trust and pledged as collateral are presented below at estimated fair value for all asset classes, except mortgage loans, which are presented at carrying value, at:

	June 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In millions)
Invested assets on deposit (regulatory deposits)	$	1,804	$	1,879
Invested assets held in trust (collateral financing arrangement and reinsurance agreements)	3,100		2,490
Invested assets pledged as collateral	24,808		24,174
Total invested assets on deposit, held in trust and pledged as collateral	$	29,712	$	28,543

The Company has pledged invested assets in connection with various agreements and transactions, including funding agreements (see Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2017 Annual Report) and derivative transactions (see Note 7).

The Components of Net Investment Income

The components of net investment income were as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018		2017		2018			2017
	(In millions)
Investment income:
Fixed maturity securities	$	3,014	$	2,839	$	5,910		$	5,664
Equity securities	15		31		31			62
FVO Securities (1)	8		16		14			45
Mortgage loans	815		758		1,607			1,494
Policy loans	127		129		251			256
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	195		169		363			322
Other limited partnership interests	120		194		327			434
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	95		56		167			107
Operating joint ventures	19		5		32			7
Other	94		53		200			125
Subtotal	4,502		4,250		8,902			8,516
Less: Investment expenses	315		271		617			532
Subtotal, net	4,187		3,979		8,285			7,984
Unit-linked investments (1)	286		214		(67		)	630
Net investment income	$	4,473	$	4,193	$	8,218		$	8,614

__________________

(1) Changes in estimated fair value subsequent to purchase for investments still held as of the end of the respective periods included in net investment income were principally from Unit-linked investments, and were$165 millionand($174) millionfor thethree monthsand six months endedJune 30, 2018, respectively, and$119 millionand$449 millionfor thethree monthsand six months endedJune 30, 2017, respectively.

The components of net investment gains (losses)

The components of net investment gains (losses) were as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In millions)
Total gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities:
Total OTTI losses recognized — by sector and industry:
State and political subdivision	$	—		$	(3	)	$	—		$	(3	)
OTTI losses on fixed maturity securities recognized in earnings	—			(3		)	—			(3		)
Fixed maturity securities — net gains (losses) on sales and disposals	(46		)	45			(141		)	43
Total gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities	(46		)	42			(141		)	40
Total gains (losses) on equity securities:
OTTI losses recognized — by security type:
Common stock	—			(5		)	—			(12		)
Non-redeemable preferred stock	—			—			—			(1		)
Total OTTI losses on equity securities recognized in earnings	—			(5		)	—			(13		)
Equity securities — net gains (losses) on sales and disposals	14			5			116			48
Change in estimated fair value of equity securities (1)	20			—			(113		)	—
Total gains (losses) on equity securities	34			—			3			35
Mortgage loans	(15		)	(14		)	(36		)	(26		)
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	89			270			114			267
Other limited partnership interests	8			(11		)	8			(18		)
Other	(58		)	(70		)	(188		)	(96		)
Subtotal	12			217			(240		)	202
Change in estimated fair value of other limited partnership interests and real estate joint ventures	(1		)	—			(6		)	—
Non-investment portfolio gains (losses) (2)	(238		)	(113		)	(314		)	(10		)
Total net investment gains (losses)	$	(227	)	$	104		$	(560	)	$	192

__________________

(1) Changes in estimated fair value subsequent to purchase for equity securities still held as of the end of the period included in net investment gains (losses) were$31 millionand($5) millionfor thethree monthsandsix months endedJune 30, 2018, respectively. SeeNote 1.

(2) Non-investment portfolio gains (losses) for the three months and six months endedJune 30, 2018 includes a loss of $159 millionand $327 million, respectively, which represents both the change in estimated fair value of FVO Brighthouse Common Stock held by the Company through date of disposal and the loss on disposal. See Note 3.

Proceeds from sales or disposals of fixed maturity and equity securities and the components of fixed maturity and equity securities net investment gains and losses

Proceeds from sales or disposals of fixed maturity securities AFS and the components of fixed maturity securities AFS net investment gains (losses) were as shown in the table below:

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In millions)
Proceeds	$	20,183		$	12,486		$	39,253		$	26,947
Gross investment gains	$	149		$	117		$	255		$	259
Gross investment losses	(195		)	(72		)	(396		)	(216		)
OTTI losses	—			(3		)	—			(3		)
Net investment gains (losses)	$	(46	)	$	42		$	(141	)	$	40

Rollforward of the Cumulative Credit Loss Component of OTTI income (loss)

The table below presents a rollforward of the cumulative credit loss component of OTTI loss recognized in earnings on fixed maturity securities still held for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”):

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In millions)
Balance, beginning of period	$	128		$	170		$	138		$	187
Sales (maturities, pay downs or prepayments) of securities previously impaired as credit loss OTTI	(17		)	(5		)	(26		)	(22		)
Increase in cash flows — accretion of previous credit loss OTTI	—			—			(1		)	—
Balance, end of period	$	111		$	165		$	111		$	165

Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Schedule of Variable Interest Entities [Table Text Block]

The following table presents the total assets and total liabilities relating to investment-related VIEs for which the Company has concluded that it is the primary beneficiary and which are consolidated at:

	June 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Total Assets		Total Liabilities		Total Assets		Total Liabilities
	(In millions)
Renewable energy partnership (1)	$	109	$	—	$	116	$	3
Investment fund (2)	333		1		—		—
Other investments	31		5		32		6
Total	$	473	$	6	$	148	$	9

__________________

(1) Assets of the renewable energy partnership primarily consisted of other invested assets.

(2) Assets of the investment fund primarily consisted of other invested assets.

Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Schedule of Variable Interest Entities [Table Text Block]

The carrying amount and maximum exposure to loss relating to VIEs in which the Company holds a significant variable interest but is not the primary beneficiary and which have not been consolidated were as follows at:

	June 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Carrying Amount		Maximum Exposure to Loss (1)		Carrying Amount		Maximum Exposure to Loss (1)
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities AFS:
Structured Securities (2)	$	46,531	$	46,531	$	47,614	$	47,614
U.S. and foreign corporate	1,281		1,281		1,560		1,560
Other limited partnership interests	5,088		9,269		4,834		8,543
Other invested assets	1,866		2,080		2,291		2,625
Other investments	37		41		82		87
Total	$	54,803	$	59,202	$	56,381	$	60,429

__________________

(1) The maximum exposure to loss relating to fixed maturity securities AFS is equal to their carrying amounts or the carrying amounts of retained interests. The maximum exposure to loss relating to other limited partnership interests is equal to the carrying amounts plus any unfunded commitments. For certain of its investments in other invested assets, the Company’s return is in the form of income tax credits which are guaranteed by creditworthy third parties. For such investments, the maximum exposure to loss is equal to the carrying amounts plus any unfunded commitments, reduced by income tax credits guaranteed by third parties of $107 million and $117 million at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Such a maximum loss would be expected to occur only upon bankruptcy of the issuer or investee.

(2) For these variable interests, the Company’s involvement is limited to that of a passive investor in mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities issued by trusts that do not have substantial equity.

Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Disclosure of the mortgage loans portfolio segment by the recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by credit quality indicator categories

The credit quality of commercial mortgage loans was as follows at:

	Recorded Investment										Estimated Fair Value		% of Total
	Debt Service Coverage Ratios								% of Total
	> 1.20x		1.00x - 1.20x		< 1.00x		Total
	(Dollars in millions)
June 30, 2018
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	39,229	$	691	$	202	$	40,122	87.1	%	$	40,488	87.3	%
65% to 75%	3,931		264		433		4,628		10.0		4,628		10.0
76% to 80%	405		210		56		671		1.5		638		1.4
Greater than 80%	478		176		—		654		1.4		618		1.3
Total	$	44,043	$	1,341	$	691	$	46,075	100.0	%	$	46,372	100.0	%
December 31, 2017
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	37,073	$	1,483	$	201	$	38,757	87.4	%	$	39,528	87.7	%
65% to 75%	4,183		98		119		4,400		9.9		4,408		9.8
76% to 80%	235		210		57		502		1.1		476		1.0
Greater than 80%	401		168		147		716		1.6		672		1.5
Total	$	41,892	$	1,959	$	524	$	44,375	100.0	%	$	45,084	100.0	%

Agricultural Portfolio Segment [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Disclosure of the mortgage loans portfolio segment by the recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by credit quality indicator categories

The credit quality of agricultural mortgage loans was as follows at:

	June 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Recorded Investment		% of Total		Recorded Investment		% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	12,576	94.6	%	$	12,347	94.9	%
65% to 75%	676		5.1		618		4.7
76% to 80%	32		0.2		40		0.3
Greater than 80%	9		0.1		9		0.1
Total	$	13,293	100.0	%	$	13,014	100.0	%

Residential Portfolio Segment [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Disclosure of the mortgage loans portfolio segment by the recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by credit quality indicator categories

The credit quality of residential mortgage loans was as follows at:

	June 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Recorded Investment		% of Total		Recorded Investment		% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Performance indicators:
Performing	$	10,945	96.0	%	$	10,622	95.4	%
Nonperforming	459		4.0		514		4.6
Total	$	11,404	100.0	%	$	11,136	100.0	%