Separate Account Liabilities Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Separate Account, Liability [Line Items]
Separate account liabilities	$ 148,417		$ 146,038
U.S. | Stable Value and Risk Solutions
Separate Account, Liability [Line Items]
Separate account liabilities	45,687	$ 54,119	48,265	$ 58,473
Premiums and deposits	652	1,996
Policy charges	(70)	(87)
Surrenders and withdrawals	(3,425)	(3,082)
Benefit payments	(21)	(24)
Investment performance	1,139	(1,994)
Net transfers from (to) separate accounts	(57)	88
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	(796)	(1,251)
Cash Surrender Value	40,947	45,172
U.S. | Investment Product
Separate Account, Liability [Line Items]
Separate account liabilities	12,219	14,905	11,694	21,292
Premiums and deposits	78	620
Policy charges	(6)	(8)
Surrenders and withdrawals	(135)	(5,820)
Benefit payments	0	0
Investment performance	505	(1,141)
Net transfers from (to) separate accounts	2	(62)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	81	24
Latin America | Pension Plan
Separate Account, Liability [Line Items]
Separate account liabilities	42,211	39,126	39,428	37,631
Premiums and deposits	1,963	1,728
Policy charges	(75)	(66)
Surrenders and withdrawals	(1,345)	(1,197)
Benefit payments	(429)	(432)
Investment performance	(393)	(1,584)
Net transfers from (to) separate accounts	0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	3,062	3,046
Cash Surrender Value	42,211	39,126
MetLife Holdings | Investment Product
Separate Account, Liability [Line Items]
Separate account liabilities	29,320	36,079	$ 28,499	$ 40,173
Premiums and deposits	67	72
Policy charges	(149)	(174)
Surrenders and withdrawals	(662)	(866)
Benefit payments	(120)	(124)
Investment performance	1,720	(2,937)
Net transfers from (to) separate accounts	(35)	(66)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	0	1
Cash Surrender Value	$ 29,173	$ 35,864