Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Investments:
Amortized cost of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	$ 334,009	$ 317,617
Fixed maturity securities relating to variable interest entities	353,927	324,797
Cost of equity securities available-for-sale	3,227	3,621
Actively traded securities	415	463
Trading and other securities relating to variable interest entities	18,698	18,589
Mortgage loans:
Valuation allowances for held-for-investment	529	664
Mortgage loans, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	59,209	58,976
Real estate and real estate joint ventures relating to variable interest entities	8,197	8,030
Other limited partnership interests relating to variable interest entities	6,538	6,416
Other invested assets relating to variable interest entities	23,138	15,430
Cash and cash equivalents relating to variable interest entities	10,001	12,957
Accrued investment income relating to variable interest entities	4,793	4,328
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables relating to variable interest entities	23,137	19,799
Other assets relating to variable interest entities	8,340	8,174
Liabilities
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	24,753	27,586
Other liabilities relating to variable interest entities	23,121	20,366
MetLife, Inc.'s stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	3,000,000,000	3,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	1,060,754,366	989,031,704
Common stock, shares outstanding	1,057,560,479	985,837,817
Treasury stock, shares	3,193,887	3,193,887
Variable interest entities
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities relating to variable interest entities	3,265	3,330
Trading and other securities relating to variable interest entities	321	387
Mortgage loans:
Mortgage loans, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	3,277	6,840
Real estate and real estate joint ventures relating to variable interest entities	12	10
Other limited partnership interests relating to variable interest entities	319	298
Other invested assets relating to variable interest entities	98	104
Cash and cash equivalents relating to variable interest entities	37	69
Accrued investment income relating to variable interest entities	17	34
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables relating to variable interest entities	2	2
Other assets relating to variable interest entities	5	6
Liabilities
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	3,158	6,902
Other liabilities relating to variable interest entities	$ 73	$ 93
Noncumulative Preferred Stock
MetLife, Inc.'s stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	84,000,000	84,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	84,000,000	84,000,000
Preferred stock, aggregate liquidation preference	$ 2,100	$ 2,100
Convertible Preferred Stock
MetLife, Inc.'s stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	6,857,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	6,857,000
Preferred stock, aggregate liquidation preference		$ 0.01