Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Unearned Revenue - DAC VOBA by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			$ 18,388	$ 17,644
Capitalizations	$ 691	$ 742	2,114	2,189
Amortization			(1,420)	(1,324)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(300)	(502)
DAC, Ending Balance	18,782	18,007	18,782	18,007
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			1,763	2,009
Amortization			(103)	(124)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(41)	(155)
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	1,619	1,730	1,619	1,730
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	20,401	19,737	20,401	19,737	$ 20,151
Group Benefits
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			258	265
Capitalizations			13	16
Amortization			(19)	(19)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
DAC, Ending Balance	252	262	252	262
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			160	136
Amortization			(43)	(34)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
DAC, Ending Balance	514	369	514	369
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			16	19
Amortization			(2)	(2)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	14	17	14	17
Asia
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			10,864	10,270
Capitalizations			1,032	1,202
Amortization			(579)	(518)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(71)	(600)
DAC, Ending Balance	11,246	10,354	11,246	10,354
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			1,119	1,290
Amortization			(55)	(69)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(19)	(144)
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	1,045	1,077	1,045	1,077
Latin America
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			1,950	1,542
Capitalizations			527	470
Amortization			(348)	(306)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(224)	125
DAC, Ending Balance	1,905	1,831	1,905	1,831
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			497	545
Amortization			(32)	(38)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(22)	(10)
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	443	497	443	497
EMEA
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			1,618	1,480
Capitalizations			362	341
Amortization			(254)	(245)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			(5)	(27)
DAC, Ending Balance	1,721	1,549	1,721	1,549
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			113	127
Amortization			(11)	(12)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	(1)
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	102	114	102	114
MetLife Holdings
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			3,271	3,791
Capitalizations			13	17
Amortization			(171)	(194)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
DAC, Ending Balance	3,113	3,614	3,113	3,614
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance			18	28
Amortization			(3)	(3)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	15	25	15	25
Corporate & Other
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance			30	29
Capitalizations			7	7
Amortization			(6)	(8)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net			0	0
DAC, Ending Balance	31	28	31	28
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