Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $304,767 and $310,811, respectively; allowance for credit loss of $104 and $81, respectively)	$ 332,941	$ 354,809
Equity securities, at estimated fair value	1,063	1,079
Contractholder-directed equity securities and fair value option securities, at estimated fair value	12,975	13,319
Mortgage loans (net of allowance for credit loss of $528 and $590, respectively; includes $149 and $165, respectively, under the fair value option)	83,015	83,919
Policy loans	9,334	9,493
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $182 and $169, respectively, under the fair value option and $189 and $128, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	12,007	11,933
Other limited partnership interests	10,961	9,470
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	4,781	3,904
Other invested assets (includes $2,126 and $2,156, respectively, of leveraged and direct financing leases and $371 and $332, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	18,677	20,593
Total investments	485,754	508,519
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $12 and $12, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	19,635	19,795
Accrued investment income	3,363	3,388
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $4 and $4, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	18,727	17,870
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	17,214	16,389
Current income tax recoverable	214	0
Goodwill	9,944	10,112
Assets held-for-sale	6,599	7,418
Other assets (includes $1 and $1, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	12,164	11,685
Separate account assets	196,200	199,970
Total assets	769,814	795,146
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	197,755	206,656
Policyholder account balances	205,186	205,176
Other policy-related balances	18,045	17,101
Policyholder dividends payable	562	587
Policyholder dividend obligation	1,546	2,969
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	28,694	29,475
Short-term debt	302	393
Long-term debt (includes $0 and $5, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	14,509	14,603
Collateral financing arrangement	833	845
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,153	3,153
Current income tax payable	0	129
Deferred income tax liability	8,570	11,008
Liabilities held-for-sale	3,865	4,650
Other liabilities (includes $1 and $1, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	24,457	23,614
Separate account liabilities	196,200	199,970
Total liabilities	703,677	720,329
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 15)
MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; $4,405 aggregate liquidation preference	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized; 1,185,584,001 and 1,181,614,288 shares issued, respectively; 878,312,175 and 892,910,600 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	33,910	33,812
Retained earnings	36,373	36,491
Treasury stock, at cost; 307,271,826 and 288,703,688 shares, respectively	(14,828)	(13,829)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI")	10,397	18,072
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	65,864	74,558
Noncontrolling interests	273	259
Total equity	66,137	74,817
Total liabilities and equity	$ 769,814	$ 795,146