Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles - Unearned Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	$ 4,106	$ 3,625
Deferrals	428	447
Amortization	(184)	(156)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	89	(79)
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	4,439	3,837
U.S.
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	36	38
Deferrals	1	4
Amortization	(4)	(3)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	0	0
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	33	39
Asia
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	2,382	2,033
Deferrals	283	303
Amortization	(80)	(68)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	(32)	(60)
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	2,553	2,208
Latin America
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	848	795
Deferrals	70	58
Amortization	(58)	(49)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	108	1
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	968	805
EMEA
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	559	521
Deferrals	46	52
Amortization	(31)	(28)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	13	(20)
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	587	525
MetLife Holdings
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	281	238
Deferrals	28	30
Amortization	(11)	(8)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	0	0
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	$ 298	$ 260