Pending Disposition of MetLife Poland and Greece (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets	$ 7,238	$ 7,418	$ 0
Cash and cash equivalents	69	765	0	$ 0
Liabilities held-for-sale	6,634	$ 4,650	$ 0
MetLife Poland and Greece
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets	7,238
Cash and cash equivalents	69
Other	259
Liabilities held-for-sale	6,634
Other	113
MetLife Poland and Greece | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets	2,043
MetLife Poland and Greece | Contractholder-directed equity securities
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets	1,114
MetLife Poland and Greece | Other Investments
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets	118
MetLife Poland and Greece | Investments
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets	3,275
MetLife Poland and Greece | Deferred policy acquisition costs
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets	138
MetLife Poland and Greece | Separate Accounts
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets	3,497
MetLife Poland and Greece | Future policy benefits [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Liabilities held-for-sale	916
MetLife Poland and Greece | Policyholder Account Balances [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Liabilities held-for-sale	2,005
MetLife Poland and Greece | Other Policy-Related Balances
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Liabilities held-for-sale	103
MetLife Poland and Greece | Separate account liabilities
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Liabilities held-for-sale	$ 3,497