Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets
Amortized cost of fixed maturity securities	$ 286,816	$ 286,069
Contractholder-directed equity securities and fair value option securities relating to variable interest entities	12,616	16,745
Mortgage loans valuation allowances	342	314
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Commercial and Consumer, Net	75,752	68,731
Real estate held-for-sale	0	25
Other invested assets relating to variable interest entities	18,190	17,263
Cash and cash equivalents relating to variable interest entities	15,821	12,701
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables relating to variable interest entities	19,644	18,423
Other assets relating to variable interest entities	8,408	8,167
Liabilities
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	12,829	15,686
Other liabilities relating to variable interest entities	$ 22,964	$ 23,982
MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference, Value	$ 3,405	$ 2,100
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, shares authorized	3,000,000,000	3,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	1,171,824,242	1,168,710,101
Common stock, shares outstanding	958,613,542	1,043,588,396
Treasury stock, shares	213,210,700	125,121,705
Residential mortgage loans - FVO
Assets
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Commercial and Consumer, Net	$ 299	$ 520
Variable interest entities
Assets
Contractholder-directed equity securities and fair value option securities relating to variable interest entities	4	6
Other invested assets relating to variable interest entities	141	125
Cash and cash equivalents relating to variable interest entities	52	12
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables relating to variable interest entities	3	3
Other assets relating to variable interest entities	2	2
Liabilities
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	5	6
Other liabilities relating to variable interest entities	$ 1	$ 3