Future Policy Benefits - FPB Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Gross Premiums or Assessments (1)	$ 18,257	$ 23,478	$ 15,712
Interest Expense (2)	5,393	4,930	4,805
Fixed & Immediate Annuities | Retirement and Income Solutions
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Gross Premiums or Assessments (1)	6,660	12,748	3,965
Interest Expense (2)	2,897	2,519	2,336
Whole and Term Life & Endowments | Asia
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Gross Premiums or Assessments (1)	1,124	1,144	1,457
Interest Expense (2)	311	320	371
Accident & health insurance | Asia
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Gross Premiums or Assessments (1)	3,364	3,602	4,203
Interest Expense (2)	249	248	267
Fixed Annuity | Latin America
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Gross Premiums or Assessments (1)	1,074	712	410
Interest Expense (2)	312	289	300
Long-term Care | MetLife Holdings
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Gross Premiums or Assessments (1)	731	734	736
Interest Expense (2)	776	745	711
Fixed & Immediate Annuities for Deferred Profit Liabilities | Retirement and Income Solutions
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Interest Expense (2)	167	154	147
Fixed Annuity for Deferred Profit Liabilities | Latin America
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Interest Expense (2)	22	19	20
Whole and Term Life & Endowments for Deferred Profit Liabilities | Asia
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Interest Expense (2)	31	26	18
Accident and Health Insurance Product Line for Deferred Profit Liabilities | Asia
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Interest Expense (2)	18	16	14
Variable Life | Asia
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Gross Premiums or Assessments (1)	89	58	28
Interest Expense (2)	19	21	25
Universal and Variable Universal Life | Asia
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Gross Premiums or Assessments (1)	(31)	(26)	19
Interest Expense (2)	7	7	9
Universal and Variable Universal Life | MetLife Holdings
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Gross Premiums or Assessments (1)	730	805	831
Interest Expense (2)	124	116	107
Long-Duration Insurance, Other
Principal Transaction Revenue [Line Items]
Gross Premiums or Assessments (1)	4,516	3,701	4,063
Interest Expense (2)	$ 460	$ 450	$ 480