Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Assets
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $3,400 and $3,062, respectively)	$ 310,811	$ 297,655
Amortized cost of fixed maturity securities valuation allowances	81	0
Contractholder-directed equity securities and fair value option securities relating to variable interest entities	13,319	13,102
Mortgage loans valuation allowances	590	353
Residential mortgage loans — FVO	83,919	80,529
Mortgage loans held-for-sale	0	59
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $169 and $127, respectively, under the fair value option and $128 and $0, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	11,933	10,741
Real Estate Held-for-sale	128	0
Other Invested Assets - Leveraged and Direct Financing Leases	2,156	2,299
Other invested assets, at estimated fair value	20,593	19,015
Cash and cash equivalents	19,795	16,598
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables relating to variable interest entities	17,870	20,443
Other assets	11,685	10,518
Liabilities
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	14,603	13,466
Other liabilities	$ 23,614	$ 24,179
MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference, Value	$ 4,405	$ 3,405
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	3,000,000,000	3,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	1,181,614,288	1,177,680,299
Common stock, shares outstanding	892,910,600	915,338,098
Treasury stock, shares	288,703,688	262,342,201
Residential mortgage loans - FVO
Assets
Residential mortgage loans — FVO	$ 165	$ 188
Real estate and real estate joint venture [Member]
Assets
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $169 and $127, respectively, under the fair value option and $128 and $0, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	169	127
Variable interest entities
Assets
Contractholder-directed equity securities and fair value option securities relating to variable interest entities	0	3
Other invested assets, at estimated fair value	332	290
Cash and cash equivalents	12	12
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables relating to variable interest entities	4	4
Other assets	1	2
Liabilities
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	5	5
Other liabilities	$ 1	$ 1