Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Unearned Revenue - DAC VOBA by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2025	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2024
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance	$ 18,178	$ 18,388
Capitalizations	698	740
Amortization	(494)	(471)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	296	(419)
DAC, Ending Balance	18,678	18,238
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance	1,449	1,763
Amortization	(31)	(37)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	66	(122)
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	1,484	1,604
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	20,162	19,842	$ 19,627
Group Benefits
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance	250	258
Capitalizations	5	4
Amortization	(6)	(6)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	0	0
DAC, Ending Balance	249	256
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
RIS
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance	552	397
Capitalizations	37	61
Amortization	(16)	(14)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	0	0
DAC, Ending Balance	573	444
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance	13	16
Amortization	(1)	(1)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	0	0
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	12	15
Asia
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance	10,785	10,864
Capitalizations	351	361
Amortization	(205)	(190)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	194	(361)
DAC, Ending Balance	11,125	10,674
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance	935	1,119
Amortization	(16)	(20)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	47	(76)
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	966	1,023
Latin America
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance	1,836	1,950
Capitalizations	172	178
Amortization	(120)	(114)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	54	(14)
DAC, Ending Balance	1,942	2,000
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance	393	497
Amortization	(9)	(11)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	16	(44)
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	400	442
EMEA
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance	1,664	1,618
Capitalizations	126	128
Amortization	(91)	(87)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	47	(41)
DAC, Ending Balance	1,746	1,618
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance	94	113
Amortization	(4)	(4)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	3	(2)
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	93	107
MetLife Holdings
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance	3,063	3,271
Capitalizations	4	5
Amortization	(54)	(58)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	0	0
DAC, Ending Balance	3,013	3,218
VOBA:
VOBA Net, Beginning Balance	14	18
Amortization	(1)	(1)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	0	0
VOBA Net, Ending Balance	13	17
Corporate & Other
DAC:
DAC, Beginning Balance	28	30
Capitalizations	3	3
Amortization	(2)	(2)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other, net	1	(3)
DAC, Ending Balance	30	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