Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $293,268 and $286,069, respectively)	$ 304,840	$ 308,931
Equity securities, at estimated fair value	1,479	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)	13,540	16,745
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $336 and $314, respectively; includes $323 and $520, respectively, under the fair value option)	72,461	68,731
Policy loans	9,703	9,669
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $631 and $25, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	9,977	9,637
Other limited partnership interests	6,374	5,708
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	5,231	4,870
Other invested assets (includes $128 and $125, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	16,336	17,263
Total investments	439,941	444,067
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $10 and $12, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	12,490	12,701
Accrued investment income	3,691	3,524
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $3 and $3, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	19,820	18,423
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	19,160	18,419
Goodwill	9,440	9,590
Other assets (includes $2 and $2, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	8,493	8,167
Separate account assets	185,416	205,001
Total assets	698,451	719,892
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	185,476	177,974
Policyholder account balances	184,094	182,518
Other policy-related balances	16,207	15,515
Policyholder dividends payable	709	682
Policyholder dividend obligation	456	2,121
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	26,075	25,723
Short-term debt	290	477
Long-term debt (includes $5 and $6, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	13,408	15,686
Collateral financing arrangement	1,073	1,121
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,146	3,144
Current income tax payable	166	311
Deferred income tax liability	4,924	6,767
Other liabilities (includes $1 and $3, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	25,202	23,982
Separate account liabilities	185,416	205,001
Total liabilities	646,642	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; 1,171,428,557 and 1,168,710,101 shares issued, respectively; 986,644,069 and 1,043,588,396 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	32,475	31,111
Retained earnings	27,331	26,527
Treasury stock, at cost; 184,784,488 and 125,121,705 shares, respectively	(9,193)	(6,401)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	1,000	7,427
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	51,625	58,676
Noncontrolling interests	184	194
Total equity	51,809	58,870
Total liabilities and equity	$ 698,451	$ 719,892