Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles - Unearned Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	$ 4,106	$ 3,625	$ 3,163
Deferrals	959	856	884
Amortization	(385)	(343)	(323)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	(143)	(32)	(99)
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	4,537	4,106	3,625
Retirement and Income Solutions
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	36	38	42
Deferrals	2	5	3
Amortization	(7)	(7)	(7)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	0	0	0
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	31	36	38
Asia
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	2,382	2,033	1,616
Deferrals	667	546	610
Amortization	(181)	(144)	(147)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	(18)	(53)	(46)
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	2,850	2,382	2,033
Latin America
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	848	795	835
Deferrals	147	134	110
Amortization	(116)	(116)	(96)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	110	35	(54)
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	989	848	795
EMEA
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	559	521	482
Deferrals	95	111	97
Amortization	(63)	(59)	(59)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	17	(14)	1
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	608	559	521
MetLife Holdings
Unearned Revenue [Roll Forward]
Deferred Revenue, Current, Beginning Balance	281	238	188
Deferrals	48	60	64
Amortization	(18)	(17)	(14)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other - net	(252)	0	0
Deferred Revenue, Current, Ending Balance	$ 59	$ 281	$ 238