Separate Account Liabilities Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Separate Account, Liability [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 146,038
Balance, end of period	144,634	$ 146,038
Retirement and Income Solutions
Separate Account, Liability [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	60,040
Balance, end of period	53,093	60,040
Retirement and Income Solutions | Stable Value and Risk Solutions
Separate Account, Liability [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	48,265	58,473	$ 62,150
Premiums and deposits	2,203	5,253	3,676
Policy charges	(285)	(309)	(302)
Surrenders and withdrawals	(11,123)	(5,885)	(8,170)
Benefit payments	(99)	(125)	(142)
Investment performance	2,595	(4,503)	833
Net transfers from (to) general account	(56)	82	(41)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net (1)	(157)	(4,721)	469
Balance, end of period	41,343	48,265	58,473
Cash Surrender Value	35,950	42,728	48,276
Retirement and Income Solutions | Investment Product
Separate Account, Liability [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	11,694	21,292	21,895
Premiums and deposits	175	1,233	944
Policy charges	(21)	(25)	(35)
Surrenders and withdrawals	(944)	(7,481)	(2,457)
Benefit payments	0	0	0
Investment performance	774	(2,823)	1,189
Net transfers from (to) general account	3	(56)	30
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net (1)	(22)	(446)	(274)
Balance, end of period	11,659	11,694	21,292
Latin America
Separate Account, Liability [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	39,428
Balance, end of period	41,320	39,428
Latin America | Pension Plan
Separate Account, Liability [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	39,428	37,631	50,075
Premiums and deposits	7,936	7,058	6,251
Policy charges	(287)	(253)	(228)
Surrenders and withdrawals	(5,781)	(5,155)	(4,432)
Benefit payments	(1,702)	(1,559)	(6,410)
Investment performance	2,814	1,490	825
Net transfers from (to) general account	0	0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net (1)	(1,088)	216	(8,450)
Balance, end of period	41,320	39,428	37,631
Cash Surrender Value	41,320	39,428	37,631
MetLife Holdings
Separate Account, Liability [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	33,974
Balance, end of period	35,548	33,974
MetLife Holdings | Investment Product
Separate Account, Liability [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	28,499	40,173	40,825
Premiums and deposits	256	267	298
Policy charges	(609)	(665)	(789)
Surrenders and withdrawals	(2,948)	(2,911)	(4,461)
Benefit payments	(464)	(431)	(500)
Investment performance	4,561	(7,738)	5,037
Net transfers from (to) general account	(74)	(199)	(237)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net (1)	3	3	0
Balance, end of period	29,224	28,499	40,173
Cash Surrender Value	$ 29,078	$ 28,348	$ 39,932