Exhibit 99.1


Contact:    For Media:      Holly Sheffer
                            212-578-4072

            For Investors:  Kevin Helmintoller
                            212-578-5140


         METLIFE, INC. ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM


New York, February 19, 2002 - MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced that its
Board of Directors has authorized an additional $1 billion common stock
repurchase program. This program will begin after the completion of an earlier
$1 billion repurchase program that was announced on March 28, 2001. As of
December 31, 2001, MetLife had bought back approximately 71 million shares at an
aggregate cost of approximately $1.9 billion, and had approximately $277 million
remaining on its existing share repurchase authorization.

The stock purchases can be made through purchases from the MetLife Policyholder
Trust, in the open market and through privately negotiated transactions. The
timing of open market and privately negotiated purchases will be dependent upon
market conditions and other corporate considerations. The stock repurchase
program may be modified, extended or terminated by the Board of Directors at any
time.

MetLife, Inc., through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading provider of
insurance and other financial services to individual and institutional
customers. The MetLife companies serve approximately nine million individual
households in the U.S. and companies and institutions with 33 million employees
and members. It also has international insurance operations in 13 countries.

                                      # # #

                                    - more -

This release contains statements which constitute forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including statements relating to trends in the company's operations and
financial results and the business and the products of the company, as well as
other statements including words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan,"
"estimate," "expect," "intend" and other similar expressions. Forward-looking
statements are made based upon management's current expectations and beliefs
concerning future developments and their potential effects on the company. Such
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.

Actual results may differ materially from those included in the forward-looking
statements as a result of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to
the following: (i) changes in general economic conditions, including the
performance of financial markets and interest rates; (ii) heightened
competition, including with respect to pricing, entry of new competitors and the
development of new products by new and existing competitors; (iii) unanticipated
changes in industry trends; (iv) the company's primary reliance, as a holding
company, on dividends from its subsidiaries to meet debt payment obligations and
the applicable regulatory restrictions on the ability of the subsidiaries to pay
such dividends; (v) deterioration in the experience of the "closed block"
established in connection with the reorganization of Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company; (vi) catastrophe losses; (vii) adverse litigation or arbitration
results; (viii) regulatory, accounting or tax changes that may affect the cost
of, or demand for, the company's products or services; (ix) downgrades in the
company's and its affiliates' claims paying ability or financial strength
ratings; (x) changes in rating agency policies or practices; (xi) discrepancies
between actual claims experience and assumptions used in setting prices for the
company's products and establishing the liabilities for the company's
obligations for future policy benefits and claims; (xii) the effects of business
disruption or economic contraction due to terrorism or other hostilities; and
(xiii) other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the
company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its S-1
and S-3 registration statements. The company specifically disclaims any
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a
result of new information, future developments or otherwise.