Policyholder Account Balances - Amounts on Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Jan. 01, 2021
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]
Policyholder account balance	$ 221,445	$ 219,269
Other Products
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]
Policyholder account balance	16,566	17,226
Group Life - Term | Group Benefits
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]
Policyholder account balance	7,632	7,692	$ 8,028	$ 7,893
Capital Markets Investment Products and Stable Value GICs | RIS
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]
Policyholder account balance	63,715	64,140	63,723	62,521
Annuities and Risk Solutions | RIS
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]
Policyholder account balance	20,699	17,711	15,549	14,431	$ 144
Universal and Variable Universal Life | Asia
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]
Policyholder account balance	50,801	49,739	46,417	46,590
Fixed Annuity | Asia
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]
Policyholder account balance	38,421	36,863	32,454	30,976
Fixed Annuity | MetLife Holdings
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]
Policyholder account balance	10,142	11,537	13,286	14,398
Variable Annuity | EMEA
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]
Policyholder account balance	2,337	2,720	2,802	4,215
Life and Other | MetLife Holdings
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]
Policyholder account balance	$ 11,132	$ 11,641	$ 12,402	$ 12,699