Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Treasury Stock, Common	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total MetLife, Inc.'s Stockholders' Equity	Total MetLife, Inc.'s Stockholders' Equity Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 50,013		$ 0	$ 12	$ 33,511	$ 36,831		$ (18,157)	$ (2,451)	$ 49,746		$ 267
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(3,301)							(3,301)		(3,301)
Stock-based compensation	105				105					105
Dividends on preferred stock	$ (185)					(185)				(185)
Dividend Per Share	$ 1.980
Dividends on common stock	$ (1,598)					(1,598)				(1,598)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(34)									0		(34)
Net income (loss)	5,302					5,284				5,284		18
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(20,177)								(20,170)	(20,170)		(7)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	30,125		0	12	33,616	40,332		(21,458)	(22,621)	29,881		244
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(3,133)							(3,133)		(3,133)
Stock-based compensation	74				74					74
Dividends on preferred stock	$ (198)					(198)				(198)
Dividend Per Share	$ 2.060
Dividends on common stock	$ (1,566)					(1,566)				(1,566)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(12)									0		(12)
Net income (loss)	1,602					1,578				1,578		24
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	3,361								3,379	3,379		(18)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2023	30,253	$ (219)	0	12	33,690	40,146	$ (219)	(24,591)	(19,242)	30,015	$ (219)	238
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases, excise tax	30
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(3,207)							(3,207)		(3,207)
Stock-based compensation	101				101					101
Dividends on preferred stock	$ (200)					(200)				(200)
Dividend Per Share	$ 2.155
Dividends on common stock	$ (1,527)					(1,527)				(1,527)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(2)									0		(2)
Net income (loss)	4,444					4,426				4,426		18
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(1,940)								(1,944)	(1,944)		4
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2024	27,703		$ 0	$ 12	$ 33,791	$ 42,626		$ (27,798)	$ (21,186)	$ 27,445		$ 258
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases, excise tax	$ 30