Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles - Unearned Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	$ 4,106	$ 3,625
Deferrals	176	231
Amortization	(91)	(75)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	59	13
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	4,250	3,794
U.S.
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	36	38
Deferrals	1	3
Amortization	(2)	(2)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	0	0
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	35	39
Asia
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	2,382	2,033
Deferrals	105	158
Amortization	(40)	(29)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	(16)	(9)
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	2,431	2,153
Latin America
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	848	795
Deferrals	33	28
Amortization	(28)	(25)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	67	26
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	920	824
EMEA
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	559	521
Deferrals	23	26
Amortization	(15)	(15)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	8	(4)
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	575	528
MetLife Holdings
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	281	238
Deferrals	14	16
Amortization	(6)	(4)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	0	0
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	$ 289	$ 250