Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $286,816 and $286,069, respectively)	$ 298,265	$ 308,931
Equity securities, at estimated fair value	1,440	2,513
Contractholder-directed equity securities and fair value option securities, at estimated fair value (includes $4 and $6, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	12,616	16,745
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $342 and $314, respectively; includes $299 and $520, respectively, under the fair value option)	75,752	68,731
Policy loans	9,699	9,669
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $0 and $25, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	9,698	9,637
Other limited partnership interests	6,613	5,708
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	3,937	4,870
Other invested assets (includes $141 and $125, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	18,190	17,263
Total investments	436,210	444,067
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $52 and $12, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	15,821	12,701
Accrued investment income	3,582	3,524
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $3 and $3, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	19,644	18,423
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	18,895	18,419
Goodwill	9,422	9,590
Other assets (includes $2 and $2, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	8,408	8,167
Separate account assets	175,556	205,001
Total assets	687,538	719,892
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	186,780	177,974
Policyholder account balances	183,693	182,518
Other policy-related balances	16,529	15,515
Policyholder dividends payable	677	682
Policyholder dividend obligation	428	2,121
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	24,794	25,723
Short-term debt	268	477
Long-term debt (includes $5 and $6, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	12,829	15,686
Collateral financing arrangement	1,060	1,121
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,147	3,144
Current income tax payable	441	311
Deferred income tax liability	5,414	6,767
Other liabilities (includes $1 and $3, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	22,964	23,982
Separate account liabilities	175,556	205,001
Total liabilities	634,580	661,022
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 20)
MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; $3,405 and $2,100 aggregate liquidation preference, respectively	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized; 1,171,824,242 and 1,168,710,101 shares issued, respectively; 958,613,542 and 1,043,588,396 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	32,474	31,111
Retained earnings	28,926	26,527
Treasury stock, at cost; 213,210,700 and 125,121,705 shares, respectively	(10,393)	(6,401)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	1,722	7,427
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	52,741	58,676
Noncontrolling interests	217	194
Total equity	52,958	58,870
Total liabilities and equity	$ 687,538	$ 719,892