Consolidated Statements of Equity - 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
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 67,702	$ 0	$ 12	$ 30,944	$ 34,683	$ (3,474)	$ 5,366	$ 67,531	$ 171
Preferred stock issuance	0
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(2,927)					(2,927)		(2,927)
Stock-based compensation	167			167				167
Dividends on preferred stock	(103)				(103)			(103)
Dividends on common stock	(1,717)				(1,717)			(1,717)
Stockholders' Equity Note, Spinoff Transaction	(11,666)				(10,346)		(1,320)	(11,666)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	9							0	9
Net income (loss)	4,020				4,010			4,010	10
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	3,385						3,381	3,381	4
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	58,870	0	12	31,111	26,527	(6,401)	7,427	58,676	194
Cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, net of income tax	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
Preferred stock issuance	1,274			1,274				1,274
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(3,992)					(3,992)		(3,992)
Stock-based compensation	89			89				89
Dividends on preferred stock	(141)				(141)			(141)
Dividends on common stock	(1,678)				(1,678)			(1,678)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	16							0	16
Net income (loss)	5,128				5,123			5,123	5
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(6,615)						(6,617)	(6,617)	2
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	52,958	0	12	32,474	28,926	(10,393)	1,722	52,741	217
Cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, net of income tax	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
Preferred stock issuance	0
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(2,285)					(2,285)		(2,285)
Stock-based compensation	206			206				206
Dividends on preferred stock	(178)				(178)			(178)
Dividends on common stock	(1,643)				(1,643)			(1,643)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	5							0	5
Net income (loss)	5,909				5,899			5,899	10
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	11,315						11,309	11,309	6
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 66,382	$ 0	$ 12	$ 32,680	$ 33,078	$ (12,678)	$ 13,052	$ 66,144	$ 238