Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock at Cost	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total MetLife, Inc.'s Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 74,817	$ 0	$ 12	$ 33,812	$ 36,491	$ (13,829)	$ 18,072	$ 74,558	$ 259
Redemption of preferred stock	(494)			(494)				(494)
Preferred stock redemption premium	(6)				(6)			(6)
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(2,112)					(2,112)		(2,112)
Stock-based compensation	122			122				122
Dividends on preferred stock	(103)				(103)			(103)
Dividends on common stock	(829)				(829)			(829)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	15							0	15
Net income (loss)	3,775				3,765			3,765	10
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	$ (5,762)						(5,763)	(5,763)	1
Dividend Per Share	$ 0.940
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	$ 69,423	0	12	33,440	39,318	(15,941)	12,309	69,138	285
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	74,817	0	12	33,812	36,491	(13,829)	18,072	74,558	259
Preferred stock redemption premium	(6)
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(3,100)
Dividends on preferred stock	(166)
Net income (loss)	5,364
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	69,333	0	12	33,457	40,426	(16,956)	12,111	69,050	283
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	69,423	0	12	33,440	39,318	(15,941)	12,309	69,138	285
Preferred stock redemption premium	0
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(1,015)					(1,015)		(1,015)
Stock-based compensation	17			17				17
Dividends on preferred stock	(63)				(63)			(63)
Dividends on common stock	(413)				(413)			(413)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(8)							0	(8)
Net income (loss)	1,589				1,584			1,584	5
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	$ (197)						(198)	(198)	1
Dividend Per Share	$ 0.480
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	$ 69,333	0	12	33,457	40,426	(16,956)	12,111	69,050	283
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	67,749	0	12	33,511	41,197	(18,157)	10,919	67,482	267
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(2,031)					(2,031)		(2,031)
Stock-based compensation	37			37				37
Dividends on preferred stock	(92)				(92)			(92)
Dividends on common stock	(805)				(805)			(805)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(9)							0	(9)
Net income (loss)	812				801			801	11
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	$ (28,294)						(28,291)	(28,291)	(3)
Dividend Per Share	$ 0.980
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	$ 37,367	0	12	33,548	41,101	(20,188)	(17,372)	37,101	266
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	67,749	0	12	33,511	41,197	(18,157)	10,919	67,482	267
Preferred stock redemption premium	0
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(2,700)
Dividends on preferred stock	(156)
Net income (loss)	1,212
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	25,330	0	12	33,589	41,032	(20,862)	(28,695)	25,076	254
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	37,367	0	12	33,548	41,101	(20,188)	(17,372)	37,101	266
Preferred stock redemption premium	0
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(674)					(674)		(674)
Stock-based compensation	41			41				41
Dividends on preferred stock	(64)				(64)			(64)
Dividends on common stock	(400)				(400)			(400)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(17)							0	(17)
Net income (loss)	400				395			395	5
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	$ (11,323)						(11,323)	(11,323)	0
Dividend Per Share	$ 0.500
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 25,330	$ 0	$ 12	$ 33,589	$ 41,032	$ (20,862)	$ (28,695)	$ 25,076	$ 254