Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	$ 10,102	$ 10,270	$ 9,900
Accumulated impairment	(680)	(680)	(680)
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	9,422	9,590	9,220
Acquisition	19		103
Dispositions	(71)		(16)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(62)	(168)	283
Goodwill - end of period	9,988	10,102	10,270
Accumulated impairment	(680)	(680)	(680)
Total goodwill, net - end of period	9,308	9,422	9,590
U.S.
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	1,451	1,451	1,451
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	1,451	1,451	1,451
Acquisition	15		0
Dispositions	0		0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill - end of period	1,466	1,451	1,451
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	1,466	1,451	1,451
Asia
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	4,690	4,673	4,596
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	4,690	4,673	4,596
Acquisition	4		0
Dispositions	(71)		0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	13	17	77
Goodwill - end of period	4,636	4,690	4,673
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	4,636	4,690	4,673
Latin America
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	1,172	1,306	1,226
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	1,172	1,306	1,226
Acquisition	0		0
Dispositions	0		(16)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(73)	(134)	96
Goodwill - end of period	1,099	1,172	1,306
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	1,099	1,172	1,306
EMEA
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	1,119	1,170	1,060
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	1,119	1,170	1,060
Acquisition	0		0
Dispositions	0		0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(2)	(51)	110
Goodwill - end of period	1,117	1,119	1,170
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	1,117	1,119	1,170
MetLife Holdings
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	1,567	1,567	1,567
Accumulated impairment	(680)	(680)	(680)
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	887	887	887
Acquisition	0		0
Dispositions	0		0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill - end of period	1,567	1,567	1,567
Accumulated impairment	(680)	(680)	(680)
Total goodwill, net - end of period	887	887	887
Corporate & Other
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	103	103	0
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	103	103	0
Acquisition	0		103
Dispositions	0		0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill - end of period	103	103	103
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	103	103	103
JAPAN
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	4,500	4,500
Total goodwill, net - end of period	$ 4,500	$ 4,500	$ 4,500