Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	$ 9,916	$ 9,977	$ 10,215
Accumulated impairment	(680)	(680)	(680)
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	9,236	9,297	9,535
Acquisitions		30	40
Dispositions	(26)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(309)	(91)	(278)
Goodwill - end of period	9,581	9,916	9,977
Accumulated impairment	(680)	(680)	(680)
Total goodwill, net - end of period	8,901	9,236	9,297
Group Benefits
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	1,158	1,158	1,158
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	1,158	1,158	1,158
Acquisitions		0	0
Dispositions	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill - end of period	1,158	1,158	1,158
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	1,158	1,158	1,158
RIS
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	912	912	912
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	912	912	912
Acquisitions		0	0
Dispositions	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill - end of period	912	912	912
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	912	912	912
Asia
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	4,214	4,309	4,552
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	4,214	4,309	4,552
Acquisitions		0	0
Dispositions	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(167)	(95)	(243)
Goodwill - end of period	4,047	4,214	4,309
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	4,047	4,214	4,309
Latin America
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	976	980	977
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	976	980	977
Acquisitions		0	0
Dispositions	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(120)	(4)	3
Goodwill - end of period	856	976	980
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	856	976	980
EMEA
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	916	908	946
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	916	908	946
Acquisitions		0	0
Dispositions	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(21)	8	(38)
Goodwill - end of period	895	916	908
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	895	916	908
MetLife Holdings
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	1,567	1,567	1,567
Accumulated impairment	(680)	(680)	(680)
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	887	887	887
Acquisitions		0	0
Dispositions	0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill - end of period	1,567	1,567	1,567
Accumulated impairment	(680)	(680)	(680)
Total goodwill, net - end of period	887	887	887
Corporate And Other
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill - beginning of period	173	143	103
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - beginning of period	173	143	103
Acquisitions		30	40
Dispositions	(26)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(1)	0	0
Goodwill - end of period	146	173	143
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Total goodwill, net - end of period	$ 146	$ 173	$ 143