Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Unearned Revenue - DAC VOBA by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			$ 18,388	$ 17,644
Capitalizations	$ 683	$ 729	1,423	1,447
Amortization			(937)	(864)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(824)	(233)
DAC, Ending Balance	18,050	17,994	18,050	17,994
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			1,763	2,009
Amortization			(70)	(85)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(175)	(68)
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	1,518	1,856	1,518	1,856
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	19,568	19,850	19,568	19,850	$ 20,151
Group Benefits
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			258	265
Capitalizations			9	11
Amortization			(13)	(13)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
DAC, Ending Balance	254	263	254	263
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			0	0
Amortization			0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	0	0	0	0
RIS
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			397	267
Capitalizations			107	95
Amortization			(30)	(22)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
DAC, Ending Balance	474	340	474	340
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			16	19
Amortization			(1)	(1)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	15	18	15	18
Asia
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			10,864	10,270
Capitalizations			696	798
Amortization			(379)	(336)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(618)	(428)
DAC, Ending Balance	10,563	10,304	10,563	10,304
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			1,119	1,290
Amortization			(38)	(47)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(136)	(109)
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	945	1,134	945	1,134
Latin America
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			1,950	1,542
Capitalizations			353	299
Amortization			(232)	(197)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(156)	178
DAC, Ending Balance	1,915	1,822	1,915	1,822
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			497	545
Amortization			(22)	(26)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(36)	39
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	439	558	439	558
EMEA
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			1,618	1,480
Capitalizations			243	227
Amortization			(166)	(161)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(49)	16
DAC, Ending Balance	1,646	1,562	1,646	1,562
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			113	127
Amortization			(7)	(9)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(3)	2
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	103	120	103	120
MetLife Holdings
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			3,271	3,791
Capitalizations			9	12
Amortization			(114)	(130)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
DAC, Ending Balance	3,166	3,673	3,166	3,673
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			18	28
Amortization			(2)	(2)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	16	26	16	26
Corporate & Other
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			30	29
Capitalizations			6	5
Amortization			(3)	(5)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(1)	1
DAC, Ending Balance	32	30	32	30
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			0	0
Amortization			0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0