Contacts:       For Media:      John Calagna
                                212-578-6252

                For Investors:  Kevin Helmintoller
                                212-578-5140

                 METLIFE EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS TO BE EXPENSED
                             BEGINNING JANUARY 2003

NEW YORK, August 12, 2002 - MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) announced today that it
will adopt the fair-value recognition provisions of accounting for employee
stock options beginning January 2003.

"Currently, almost all of our total compensation is expensed," said Robert H.
Benmosche, chairman and chief executive officer. "Today's announced change in
accounting for employee stock options is the right thing to do and, along with
other leading companies, is part of an ongoing effort to help restore confidence
in Corporate America."

This decision was reached following a meeting of the Audit Committee of the
Board of Directors.

If MetLife had expensed options in 2002 under current accounting rules, the
estimated earnings per share impact for 2002 would have been approximately $0.02
to $0.03 per share for options issued in 2002. If future option grants were to
remain at the same level, the impact would increase to approximately $0.09 to
$0.10 per share as additional options are issued in subsequent years.

This method of accounting for stock options will be used for all awards granted
or modified after January 1, 2003 under the guidance of the Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation" (SFAS 123). SFAS 123 permits companies either to use the
fair-value method and recognize compensation expense upon the issuance of stock
options, thereby lowering earnings, or, alternatively, disclose the pro-forma
impact of the issuance. Management believes that use of the fair-value based
method to record employee stock-based compensation expense is appropriate.

Under the terms of MetLife's five-year Stock Incentive Plan, the aggregate
number of shares of stock that may be covered by options is subject to a maximum
limit of approximately 37.8 million shares for the duration of that plan.
Shares issuable pursuant to options granted under the five-year Directors Stock
Plan are subject to a current maximum limit of approximately 378,000 shares for
the duration of that plan; however, issuance of such shares reduces the maximum
limit of shares available under the Stock Incentive Plan. Shares covered by
options under these plans, in turn, reduce the number of shares that may be paid
in compensation under certain other compensation and benefit plans.

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 10 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.

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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 and its
subsidiaries, 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, financial strength or debt
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) discrepancies between
actual experience and assumptions used in establishing liabilities related to
other contingencies or obligations; (xiii) the effects of business disruption or
economic contraction due to terrorism or other hostilities; and (xiv) 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.