Income Tax (Reconciliation of Income Tax Provision between US Statutory Rate and As Reported for Continuing Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Tax provision at U.S. statutory rate			$ 1,325	$ 1,238	$ 1,498
Dividend received deduction			(35)	(67)	(69)
Tax-exempt income			(29)	(97)	(86)
Prior year tax (1)			(197)	(27)	(13)
Low income housing tax credits			(284)	(278)	(270)
Other tax credits			(79)	(102)	(98)
Foreign tax rate differential			335	(95)	(332)
Change in valuation allowance			(2)	(8)	(9)
Other, net (7)			67	25	72
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)			1,179	(1,470)	693
Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Other, net (7)			69
Impact of Separation
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Other Adjustments, Amount			0	(540)	0
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)				(927)
Foreign dividends [Member]
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Tax benefit on dividends from non-us operations				264
Impact of U.S. Tax Reform
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Tax provision at U.S. statutory rate			12	(101)
Other Adjustments, Amount			78	(1,519)	0
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)			66	(1,620)
Tax Rate Change [Member]
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Other Adjustments, Amount			390
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act excise tax [Member]
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Other, net (7)			18
Settlement with Taxing Authority
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Prior year tax (1)			168
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	$ (168)
GILTI [Member] | Impact of U.S. Tax Reform
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)			45
Foreign Tax Authority
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries				3,000
Repatriation of Foreign Earnings				444
Foreign Tax Authority | Foreign dividends [Member]
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Foreign tax rate differential				180
Foreign Tax Authority | Impact of U.S. Tax Reform
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Other Adjustments, Amount		$ 180		170
Repatriation of Foreign Earnings			468	$ 350
JAPAN
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Foreign tax rate differential					110
CHILE
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Foreign tax rate differential			17		$ 19
UNITED KINGDOM
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Other, net (7)			36
ARGENTINA
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Foreign tax rate differential			$ 13