Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles - Unearned Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	$ 4,106	$ 3,625
Deferrals	699	656
Amortization	(284)	(249)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	40	(141)
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	4,561	3,891
U.S.
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	36	38
Deferrals	2	4
Amortization	(5)	(5)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	0	0
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	33	37
Asia
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	2,382	2,033
Deferrals	477	417
Amortization	(129)	(96)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	(49)	(110)
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	2,681	2,244
Latin America
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	848	795
Deferrals	108	100
Amortization	(87)	(90)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	85	1
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	954	806
EMEA
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	559	521
Deferrals	71	90
Amortization	(47)	(46)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	4	(32)
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	587	533
MetLife Holdings
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	281	238
Deferrals	41	45
Amortization	(16)	(12)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	0	0
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	$ 306	$ 271