Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $293,130 and $286,816, respectively)	$ 326,049	$ 298,265
Equity securities, at estimated fair value	1,341	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)	12,671	12,616
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $350 and $342, respectively; includes $218 and $299, respectively, under the fair value option)	78,959	75,752
Policy loans	9,671	9,699
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $250 and $0, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	10,246	9,698
Other limited partnership interests	7,441	6,613
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	3,536	3,937
Other invested assets (includes $2,352 and $2,300, respectively, of leveraged and direct financing leases and $258 and $141, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	21,979	18,190
Total investments	471,893	436,210
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $15 and $52, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	19,452	15,821
Accrued investment income	3,561	3,582
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $5 and $3, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	20,723	19,644
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	17,382	18,895
Goodwill	9,278	9,422
Other assets (includes $2 and $2, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	10,166	8,408
Separate account assets	190,357	175,556
Total assets	742,812	687,538
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	193,310	186,780
Policyholder account balances	189,060	183,693
Other policy-related balances	16,960	16,529
Policyholder dividends payable	692	677
Policyholder dividend obligation	2,370	428
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	28,443	24,794
Short-term debt	142	268
Long-term debt (includes $5 and $5, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	13,443	12,829
Collateral financing arrangement	1,013	1,060
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,149	3,147
Current income tax payable	31	441
Deferred income tax liability	10,153	5,414
Other liabilities (includes $1 and $1, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	25,070	22,964
Separate account liabilities	190,357	175,556
Total liabilities	674,193	634,580
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 16)
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; 1,176,847,734 and 1,171,824,242 shares issued, respectively; 919,601,779 and 958,613,542 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	32,639	32,474
Retained earnings	32,948	28,926
Treasury stock, at cost; 257,245,955 and 213,210,700 shares, respectively	(12,428)	(10,393)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	15,197	1,722
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	68,368	52,741
Noncontrolling interests	251	217
Total equity	68,619	52,958
Total liabilities and equity	$ 742,812	$ 687,538