Long-term and Short-term Debt (Narrative) (Details) £ in Millions, $ in Millions, ¥ in Billions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 GBP (£)	Mar. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 JPY (¥)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other Short-term Borrowings		$ 241	$ 293
Short-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate, at Point in Time		1.41%	2.01%	2.88%					2.88%
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 3,200
Debt Issuance Costs, Gross			6	$ 9
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount (Premium) and Debt Issuance Costs, Net		$ 82	90
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year One		109
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year Two		1,000
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year Three		1,800
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year Four		1,200
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year Five		566
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five		9,200
Redemption Premium				40
Interest Expense, Debt		647	632	$ 656
Senior notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Principal Outstanding		$ 12,891	13,548
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.70%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount (Premium) and Debt Issuance Costs, Net		$ 77	85
Other Notes MPEH [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 50							$ 75
Repayments of Long-term Debt	$ 75
Other Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Principal Outstanding		536	527
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount (Premium) and Debt Issuance Costs, Net		$ 3	2
Senior Debt GBP 400 Million June 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				5.25%					5.25%
Early Repayment of Senior Debt				$ 509	£ 400
Senior Debt $368 Million February 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				4.75%					4.75%
Early Repayment of Senior Debt				$ 368
Senior Debt Yen 25.2 Billion May 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount				$ 230					¥ 25.2
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				0.495%					0.495%
Senior Debt Yen 64.9 Billion May 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount				$ 591					¥ 64.9
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				0.769%					0.769%
Senior Debt Yen 10.7 Billion May 2031 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount				$ 98					¥ 10.7
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				0.898%					0.898%
Senior Debt Yen 26.5 Billion May 2034 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount				$ 241					¥ 26.5
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				1.189%					1.189%
Senior Debt Yen 24.4 Billion May 2039 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount				$ 222					¥ 24.4
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				1.385%					1.385%
Senior Debt $500 Million 3.048% which matures in December 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.048%
Early Repayment of Senior Debt		$ 500
Redemption Premium		17
Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other Short-term Borrowings		$ 241	293
Parent Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.12%				100.00%
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year One		$ 0
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year Two		1,300
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year Three		1,500
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year Four		1,200
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year Five		582
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five		10,100
Interest Expense, Debt		847	$ 833	$ 850
Parent Company [Member] | Senior Notes Affiliated [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							182.00%
Committed Credit Facility Six [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		2,492
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		2,896
Committed Credit Facility Six [Member] | Brighthouse Financial, Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		$ 2,500