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)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	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, 2022	$ 30,125		$ 0	$ 12	$ 33,616	$ 40,332		$ (21,458)	$ (22,621)		$ 29,881		$ 244
Preferred stock redemption premium	0
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)
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
Preferred stock redemption premium	0
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)
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	$ (1,074)	0	12	33,791	42,626		(27,798)	(21,186)	$ (1,074)	27,445	$ (1,074)	258
Redemption of preferred stock	(988)				(988)						(988)
Preferred stock redemption premium	(12)					(12)					(12)
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(2,880)							(2,880)			(2,880)
Stock-based compensation	55				55						55
Dividends on preferred stock	(194)					(194)					(194)
Dividends on common stock	(1,509)					(1,509)					(1,509)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(2)										0		(2)
Net income (loss)	3,403					3,379					3,379		24
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	4,178								4,176		4,176		2
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2025	$ 28,680		$ 0	$ 12	$ 32,858	$ 44,290		$ (30,678)	$ (18,084)		$ 28,398		$ 282