Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $310,884 and $310,811, respectively; allowance for credit loss of $91 and $81, respectively)	$ 340,274	$ 354,809
Equity securities, at estimated fair value	1,269	1,079
Contractholder-directed equity securities and fair value option securities, at estimated fair value	12,142	13,319
Mortgage loans (net of allowance for credit loss of $634 and $590, respectively; includes $127 and $165, respectively, under the fair value option)	79,353	83,919
Policy loans	9,111	9,493
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $240 and $169, respectively, under the fair value option and $175 and $128, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	12,216	11,933
Other limited partnership interests	14,625	9,470
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	7,176	3,904
Other invested assets (includes $1,930 and $2,156, respectively, of leveraged and direct financing leases; $351 and $332, respectively, relating to variable interest entities and allowance for credit loss of $40 and $44, respectively)	18,655	20,593
Total investments	494,821	508,519
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value	20,047	19,795
Accrued investment income	3,185	3,388
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	17,149	17,870
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	16,061	16,389
Current income tax recoverable	184	0
Goodwill	9,535	10,112
Assets held-for-sale	7,238	7,418
Other assets	11,615	11,685
Separate account assets	179,873	199,970
Total assets	759,708	795,146
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	199,721	206,656
Policyholder account balances	203,473	205,176
Other policy-related balances	17,751	17,101
Policyholder dividends payable	478	587
Policyholder dividend obligation	1,682	2,969
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	31,920	29,475
Short-term debt	341	393
Long-term debt	13,933	14,603
Collateral financing arrangement	766	845
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,156	3,153
Current income tax payable	0	129
Deferred income tax liability	9,693	11,008
Liabilities held-for-sale	6,634	4,650
Other liabilities	22,538	23,614
Separate account liabilities	179,873	199,970
Total liabilities	691,959	720,329
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 21)
MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; $3,905 and $4,405, respectively, aggregate liquidation preference	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized; 1,186,540,473 and 1,181,614,288 shares issued, respectively; 825,540,267 and 892,910,600 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	33,511	33,812
Retained earnings	41,197	36,491
Treasury stock, at cost; 361,000,206 and 288,703,688 shares, respectively	(18,157)	(13,829)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	10,919	18,072
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	67,482	74,558
Noncontrolling interests	267	259
Total equity	67,749	74,817
Total liabilities and equity	$ 759,708	$ 795,146