Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	$ 10,270	$ 9,900	$ 9,897
Accumulated impairment	(680)	(680)	(680)
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	9,590	9,220	9,217
Acquisition		103
Dispositions		(16)	(42)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(168)	283	45
Goodwill - end of period	10,102	10,270	9,900
Accumulated impairment	(680)	(680)	(680)
Total goodwill, net - end of period	9,422	9,590	9,220
U.S.
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	1,451	1,451	1,451
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	1,451	1,451	1,451
Acquisition		0
Dispositions		0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill - end of period	1,451	1,451	1,451
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	1,451	1,451	1,451
Asia
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	4,673	4,596	4,508
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	4,673	4,596	4,508
Acquisition		0
Dispositions		0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	17	77	88
Goodwill - end of period	4,690	4,673	4,596
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	4,690	4,673	4,596
Latin America
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	1,306	1,226	1,186
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	1,306	1,226	1,186
Acquisition		0
Dispositions		(16)	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(134)	96	40
Goodwill - end of period	1,172	1,306	1,226
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	1,172	1,306	1,226
EMEA
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	1,170	1,060	1,143
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	1,170	1,060	1,143
Acquisition		0
Dispositions		0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(51)	110	(83)
Goodwill - end of period	1,119	1,170	1,060
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	1,119	1,170	1,060
MetLife Holdings
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	1,567	1,567	1,567
Accumulated impairment	(680)	(680)	(680)
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	887	887	887
Acquisition		0
Dispositions		0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill - end of period	1,567	1,567	1,567
Accumulated impairment	(680)	(680)	(680)
Total goodwill, net - end of period	887	887	887
Corporate & Other
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	103	0	42
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	103	0	42
Acquisition		103
Dispositions		0	(42)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill - end of period	103	103	0
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	103	103	0
JAPAN
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	4,500	4,400
Total goodwill, net - end of period	$ 4,500	$ 4,500	$ 4,400