Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $297,655 and $286,816, respectively)	$ 327,820	$ 298,265
Equity securities, at estimated fair value	1,342	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)	13,102	12,616
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $353 and $342, respectively; includes $188 and $299, respectively, under the fair value option and $59 and $0, respectively, of mortgage loans held-for-sale)	80,529	75,752
Policy loans	9,680	9,699
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $127 and $0, respectively, under the fair value option)	10,741	9,698
Other limited partnership interests	7,716	6,613
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	3,850	3,937
Other invested assets (includes $2,299 and $2,300, respectively, of leveraged and direct financing leases and $290 and $141, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	19,015	18,190
Total investments	473,795	436,210
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $12 and $52, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	16,598	15,821
Accrued investment income	3,523	3,582
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $4 and $3, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	20,443	19,644
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	17,833	18,895
Goodwill	9,308	9,422
Other assets (includes $2 and $2, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	10,518	8,408
Separate account assets	188,445	175,556
Total assets	740,463	687,538
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	194,909	186,780
Policyholder account balances	192,627	183,693
Other policy-related balances	17,171	16,529
Policyholder dividends payable	681	677
Policyholder dividend obligation	2,020	428
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	26,745	24,794
Short-term debt	235	268
Long-term debt (includes $5 and $5, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	13,466	12,829
Collateral financing arrangement	993	1,060
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,150	3,147
Current income tax payable	363	441
Deferred income tax liability	9,097	5,414
Other liabilities (includes $1 and $1, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	24,179	22,964
Separate account liabilities	188,445	175,556
Total liabilities	674,081	634,580
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 21)
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; 1,177,680,299 and 1,171,824,242 shares issued, respectively; 915,338,098 and 958,613,542 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	32,680	32,474
Retained earnings	33,078	28,926
Treasury stock, at cost; 262,342,201 and 213,210,700 shares, respectively	(12,678)	(10,393)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	13,052	1,722
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	66,144	52,741
Noncontrolling interests	238	217
Total equity	66,382	52,958
Total liabilities and equity	$ 740,463	$ 687,538