Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions	Total	Noncumulative Preferred Stock	Convertible Preferred Stock	Total MetLife, Inc.'s Stockholders' Equity	Common stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Treasury Stock at Cost	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Other Than Temporary Impairments [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009 (Previously Reported)	$ 33,498	$ 1		$ 33,121	$ 8	$ 16,859	$ (190)	$ 19,501	$ (817)	$ (513)	$ (183)	$ (1,545)	$ 377
Beginning Balance (Accounting Standards Update 2009-17 [Member])	30			30				(12)	31	11
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	33,528	1		33,151	8	16,859	(190)	19,489	(786)	(502)	(183)	(1,545)	377
Redemption of convertible preferred stock	0
Preferred stock redemption premium	0
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax (Accounting Standards Update 2010-11 [Member])	0			0				(10)	10
Common stock issuance - newly issued shares	3,529			3,529	1	3,528
Stock-based compensation	82			82		64	18
Dividends on preferred stock	(91)			(91)				(91)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(22)												(22)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	2,701			2,708				2,708					(7)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments, net of income tax	409			409					409
Unrealized investment gains (losses), net of related offsets and income tax	6,624			6,625					6,268	357			(1)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(85)			(92)							(92)		7
Defined benefit plans adjustment, net of income tax	94			94								94
Other comprehensive income (loss)	7,042			7,036									6
Comprehensive income (loss)	9,743			9,744									(1)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2010	46,769	1		46,415	9	20,451	(172)	22,096	5,901	(145)	(275)	(1,451)	354
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010		1	0				(172)
Preferred stock redemption premium			(146)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2011 (Previously Reported)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	48,996	1	0	48,625	10	26,423	(172)	21,363	3,356	(366)	(541)	(1,449)	371
Redemption of convertible preferred stock	(2,805)		0	(2,805)		(2,805)
Preferred stock redemption premium	(146)			(146)				(146)
Common stock issuance - newly issued shares	2,950			2,950	1	2,949
Stock-based compensation	177			177		177
Dividends on preferred stock	(91)			(91)				(91)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	48												48
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	5,826			5,825				5,825					1	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments, net of income tax	1,005			1,005					1,005
Unrealized investment gains (losses), net of related offsets and income tax	4,447			4,452					4,503	(51)			(5)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	273			291							291		(18)
Defined benefit plans adjustment, net of income tax	65			65								65
Other comprehensive income (loss)	5,790			5,813									(23)
Comprehensive income (loss)	11,616			11,638									(22)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	$ 60,745	$ 1	$ 0	$ 60,348	$ 11	$ 26,744	$ (172)	$ 26,951	$ 8,864	$ (417)	$ (250)	$ (1,384)	$ 397

[1] Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests excludes gains (losses) of redeemable noncontrolling interests in partially owned consolidated subsidiaries of ($7) million.