Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $288,559 and $286,816, respectively)	$ 308,410	$ 298,265
Equity securities, at estimated fair value	1,432	1,440
Contractholder-directed equity securities and fair value option securities, at estimated fair value (includes $3 and $4, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	13,245	12,616
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $350 and $342, respectively; includes $276 and $299, respectively, under the fair value option)	78,601	75,752
Policy loans	9,670	9,699
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	10,022	9,698
Other limited partnership interests	6,787	6,613
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	4,524	3,937
Other invested assets (includes $2,392 and $2,300, respectively, of leveraged and direct financing leases and $214 and $141, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	18,175	18,190
Total investments	450,866	436,210
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $19 and $52, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	14,506	15,821
Accrued investment income	3,569	3,582
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $2 and $3, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	20,615	19,644
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	18,349	18,895
Goodwill	9,418	9,422
Other assets (includes $2 and $2, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	10,100	8,408
Separate account assets	185,765	175,556
Total assets	713,188	687,538
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	187,508	186,780
Policyholder account balances	187,333	183,693
Other policy-related balances	16,967	16,529
Policyholder dividends payable	671	677
Policyholder dividend obligation	1,116	428
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	25,084	24,794
Short-term debt	289	268
Long-term debt (includes $5 and $5, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	12,850	12,829
Collateral financing arrangement	1,048	1,060
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,148	3,147
Current income tax payable	505	441
Deferred income tax liability	7,075	5,414
Other liabilities (includes $1 and $1, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	25,091	22,964
Separate account liabilities	185,765	175,556
Total liabilities	654,450	634,580
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 14)
MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; $3,405 aggregate liquidation preference	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized; 1,174,590,790 and 1,171,824,242 shares issued, respectively; 950,181,456 and 958,613,542 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	32,535	32,474
Retained earnings	29,944	28,926
Treasury stock, at cost; 224,409,334 and 213,210,700 shares, respectively	(10,893)	(10,393)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	6,911	1,722
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	58,509	52,741
Noncontrolling interests	229	217
Total equity	58,738	52,958
Total liabilities and equity	$ 713,188	$ 687,538