Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock at Cost	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total MetLife, Inc.'s Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, net of income tax (Note 1)	$ 7				$ (905)		$ 912	$ 7
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Adjusted Balance	58,877	$ 0	$ 12	$ 31,111	25,622	$ (6,401)	8,339	58,683	$ 194
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	58,870	0	12	31,111	26,527	(6,401)	7,427	58,676	194
Preferred stock issuance	494			494				494
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(1,041)					(1,041)		(1,041)
Stock-based compensation	48			48				48
Dividends on preferred stock	(6)				(6)			(6)
Dividends on common stock	(416)				(416)			(416)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	0							0	0
Net income (loss)	1,257				1,253			1,253	4
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(2,705)						(2,705)	(2,705)	0
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	56,508	0	12	31,653	26,453	(7,442)	5,634	56,310	198
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	58,870	0	12	31,111	26,527	(6,401)	7,427	58,676	194
Preferred stock issuance	1,274
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(2,200)
Dividends on preferred stock	(52)
Net income (loss)	2,151
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	53,832	0	12	32,454	26,870	(8,557)	2,854	53,633	199
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	56,508	0	12	31,653	26,453	(7,442)	5,634	56,310	198
Preferred stock issuance	780			780				780
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(1,115)					(1,115)		(1,115)
Stock-based compensation	21			21				21
Dividends on preferred stock	(46)				(46)			(46)
Dividends on common stock	(428)				(428)			(428)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(3)							0	(3)
Net income (loss)	894				891			891	3
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(2,779)						(2,780)	(2,780)	1
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	53,832	0	12	32,454	26,870	(8,557)	2,854	53,633	199
Cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, net of income tax (Note 1)	95				74		21	95
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Adjusted Balance	53,053	0	12	32,474	29,000	(10,393)	1,743	52,836	217
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	52,958	0	12	32,474	28,926	(10,393)	1,722	52,741	217
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(500)					(500)		(500)
Stock-based compensation	61			61				61
Dividends on preferred stock	(32)				(32)			(32)
Dividends on common stock	(405)				(405)			(405)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	6							0	6
Net income (loss)	1,385				1,381			1,381	4
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	5,170						5,168	5,168	2
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	58,738	0	12	32,535	29,944	(10,893)	6,911	58,509	229
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	52,958	0	12	32,474	28,926	(10,393)	1,722	52,741	217
Preferred stock issuance	0
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(1,300)
Dividends on preferred stock	(89)
Net income (loss)	3,131
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	64,046	0	12	32,602	31,209	(11,643)	11,631	63,811	235
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	58,738	0	12	32,535	29,944	(10,893)	6,911	58,509	229
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(750)					(750)		(750)
Stock-based compensation	67			67				67
Dividends on preferred stock	(57)				(57)			(57)
Dividends on common stock	(419)				(419)			(419)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	1							0	1
Net income (loss)	1,746				1,741			1,741	5
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	4,720						4,720	4,720	0
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 64,046	$ 0	$ 12	$ 32,602	$ 31,209	$ (11,643)	$ 11,631	$ 63,811	$ 235