Common Equity Units	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Common Equity Units [Abstract]
Common Equity Units	14. Common Equity Units *Acquisition of ALICO* In connection with the financing of the Acquisition (see Note 2) in November 2010, MetLife, Inc. issued to AM Holdings 40.0 million Equity Units with an aggregate stated amount at issuance of $3.0 billion and an estimated fair value of $3.2 billion. Each Equity Unit has an initial stated amount of $75 per unit and initially consists of: (i) three Purchase Contracts, each of which obligates the holder to purchase, on a subsequent settlement date, a variable number of shares of MetLife, Inc. common stock, par value $0.01 per share, for a purchase price of $25 ($75 in the aggregate); and (ii) a 1/40 undivided beneficial ownership interest in each of three series of Debt Securities issued by MetLife, Inc., each series of Debt Securities having an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion. Distributions on the Equity Units will be made quarterly, and will consist of contract payments on the Purchase Contracts and interest payments on the Debt Securities, at an aggregate annual rate of 5.00% of the stated amount at any time. The excess of the estimated fair value of the Equity Units over the estimated fair value of the Debt Securities (see Note 11), after accounting for the present value of future contract payments recorded in other liabilities, resulted in a net decrease to additional paid-in capital of $69 million, representing the fair value of the Purchase Contracts discussed below. On March 8, 2011, AM Holdings sold, in a public offering, all the Equity Units it received as consideration from MetLife in connection with the Acquisition. The Equity Units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Purchase Contracts Settlement of the Purchase Contracts of each series will occur upon the successful remarketing of the related series of Debt Securities, or upon a final failed remarketing of the related series, as described below under “— Debt Securities.” On each settlement date subsequent to a successful remarketing, the holder will pay $25 per Equity Unit and MetLife, Inc. will issue to such holder a variable number of shares of its common stock in settlement of the applicable Purchase Contract. The number of shares to be issued will depend on the average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of MetLife, Inc.’s common stock during the 20 trading day periods ending on, and including, the third day prior to the initial scheduled settlement date for each series of Purchase Contracts. The initially-scheduled settlement dates are October 10, 2012 for the Series C Purchase Contracts, September 11, 2013 for the Series D Purchase Contracts and October 8, 2014 for the Series E Purchase Contracts. If the average value of MetLife, Inc.’s common stock as calculated pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement during the applicable 20 trading day period is less than or equal to $35.42, as such amount may be adjusted (the “Reference Price”), the number of shares to be issued in settlement of the Purchase Contract will equal $25 divided by the Reference Price, as calculated pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Maximum Settlement Rate”). If the market value of MetLife, Inc.’s common stock is greater than or equal to $44.275, as such amount may be adjusted (the “Threshold Appreciation Price”), the number of shares to be issued in settlement of the Purchase Contract will equal $25 divided by the Threshold Appreciation Price, as so calculated (the “Minimum Settlement Rate”). If the market value of MetLife, Inc.’s common stock is greater than the Reference Price and less than the Threshold Appreciation Price, the number of shares to be issued will equal $25 divided by the applicable market value, as so calculated. In the event of an unsuccessful remarketing of any series of Debt Securities and the postponement of settlement to a later date, the average market value used to calculate the settlement rate for a particular series will not be recalculated, although certain corporate events may require adjustments to the settlement rate. After settlement of all the Purchase Contracts, MetLife, Inc. will receive proceeds of $3.0 billion and issue between 67.8 million and 84.7 million shares of its common stock, subject to certain adjustments. The holder of an Equity Unit may, at its option, settle the related Purchase Contracts before the applicable settlement date. However, upon early settlement, the holder will receive the Minimum Settlement Rate. Distributions on the Purchase Contracts will be made quarterly at an average annual rate of 3.02%. The value of the Purchase Contracts at issuance of $247 million was calculated as the present value of the future contract payments and was recorded in other liabilities with an offsetting decrease in additional paid-in capital. The other liabilities balance will be reduced as contract payments are made. For the year ended December 31, 2011, $102 million of contract payments were made. For the year ended December 31, 2010, no contract payments were made. Debt Securities The Debt Securities are senior, unsecured notes of MetLife, Inc. which, in the aggregate, pay quarterly distributions at an initial average annual rate of 1.98% and are included in long-term debt (see Note 11 for further discussion of terms). The Debt Securities will be initially pledged as collateral to secure the obligations of each Equity Unit holder under the related Purchase Contracts. Each series of the Debt Securities will be subject to a remarketing and sold on behalf of participating holders to investors. The proceeds of a remarketing, net of any related fees, will be applied on behalf of participating holders who so elect to settle any obligation of the holder to pay cash under the related Purchase Contract on the applicable settlement dates. The initially-scheduled remarketing dates are October 10, 2012 for the Series C Debt Securities, September 11, 2013 for the Series D Debt Securities and October 8, 2014 for the Series E Debt Securities, subject to delay if there are one or more unsuccessful remarketings. If the initial attempted remarketing of a series is unsuccessful, up to two additional remarketing attempts will occur. At the remarketing date, the remarketing agent may reset the interest rate on the Debt Securities, subject to a reset cap for each of the first two attempted remarketings of each series. If a remarketing is successful, the reset rate will apply to all outstanding Debt Securities of the applicable tranche of the remarketed series, whether or not the holder participated in the remarketing and will become effective on the settlement date of such remarketing. If the first remarketing attempt with respect to a series is unsuccessful, the applicable Purchase Contract settlement date will be delayed for three calendar months, at which time a second remarketing attempt will occur in connection with settlement. If the second remarketing attempt is unsuccessful, one additional delay may occur on the same basis. If both additional remarketing attempts are unsuccessful, a “final failed remarketing” will have occurred, and the interest rate on such series of Debt Securities will not be reset and the holder may put such series of Debt Securities to MetLife, Inc. at a price equal to its principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, and apply the principal amount against the holder’s obligations under the related Purchase Contract.

Common Equity Units

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

14. Common Equity Units

Acquisition of ALICO

In connection with the financing of the Acquisition (see Note 2) in November 2010, MetLife, Inc. issued to AM Holdings 40.0 million Equity Units with an aggregate stated amount at issuance of $3.0 billion and an estimated fair value of $3.2 billion. Each Equity Unit has an initial stated amount of $75 per unit and initially consists of: (i) three Purchase Contracts, each of which obligates the holder to purchase, on a subsequent settlement date, a variable number of shares of MetLife, Inc. common stock, par value $0.01 per share, for a purchase price of $25 ($75 in the aggregate); and (ii) a 1/40 undivided beneficial ownership interest in each of three series of Debt Securities issued by MetLife, Inc., each series of Debt Securities having an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion. Distributions on the Equity Units will be made quarterly, and will consist of contract payments on the Purchase Contracts and interest payments on the Debt Securities, at an aggregate annual rate of 5.00% of the stated amount at any time. The excess of the estimated fair value of the Equity Units over the estimated fair value of the Debt Securities (see Note 11), after accounting for the present value of future contract payments recorded in other liabilities, resulted in a net decrease to additional paid-in capital of $69 million, representing the fair value of the Purchase Contracts discussed below. On March 8, 2011, AM Holdings sold, in a public offering, all the Equity Units it received as consideration from MetLife in connection with the Acquisition. The Equity Units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Purchase Contracts

Settlement of the Purchase Contracts of each series will occur upon the successful remarketing of the related series of Debt Securities, or upon a final failed remarketing of the related series, as described below under “— Debt Securities.” On each settlement date subsequent to a successful remarketing, the holder will pay $25 per Equity Unit and MetLife, Inc. will issue to such holder a variable number of shares of its common stock in settlement of the applicable Purchase Contract. The number of shares to be issued will depend on the average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of MetLife, Inc.’s common stock during the 20 trading day periods ending on, and including, the third day prior to the initial scheduled settlement date for each series of Purchase Contracts. The initially-scheduled settlement dates are October 10, 2012 for the Series C Purchase Contracts, September 11, 2013 for the Series D Purchase Contracts and October 8, 2014 for the Series E Purchase Contracts. If the average value of MetLife, Inc.’s common stock as calculated pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement during the applicable 20 trading day period is less than or equal to $35.42, as such amount may be adjusted (the “Reference Price”), the number of shares to be issued in settlement of the Purchase Contract will equal $25 divided by the Reference Price, as calculated pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Maximum Settlement Rate”). If the market value of MetLife, Inc.’s common stock is greater than or equal to $44.275, as such amount may be adjusted (the “Threshold Appreciation Price”), the number of shares to be issued in settlement of the Purchase Contract will equal $25 divided by the Threshold Appreciation Price, as so calculated (the “Minimum Settlement Rate”). If the market value of MetLife, Inc.’s common stock is greater than the Reference Price and less than the Threshold Appreciation Price, the number of shares to be issued will equal $25 divided by the applicable market value, as so calculated. In the event of an unsuccessful remarketing of any series of Debt Securities and the postponement of settlement to a later date, the average market value used to calculate the settlement rate for a particular series will not be recalculated, although certain corporate events may require adjustments to the settlement rate. After settlement of all the Purchase Contracts, MetLife, Inc. will receive proceeds of $3.0 billion and issue between 67.8 million and 84.7 million shares of its common stock, subject to certain adjustments. The holder of an Equity Unit may, at its option, settle the related Purchase Contracts before the applicable settlement date. However, upon early settlement, the holder will receive the Minimum Settlement Rate.

Distributions on the Purchase Contracts will be made quarterly at an average annual rate of 3.02%. The value of the Purchase Contracts at issuance of $247 million was calculated as the present value of the future contract payments and was recorded in other liabilities with an offsetting decrease in additional paid-in capital. The other liabilities balance will be reduced as contract payments are made. For the year ended December 31, 2011, $102 million of contract payments were made. For the year ended December 31, 2010, no contract payments were made.

Debt Securities

The Debt Securities are senior, unsecured notes of MetLife, Inc. which, in the aggregate, pay quarterly distributions at an initial average annual rate of 1.98% and are included in long-term debt (see Note 11 for further discussion of terms). The Debt Securities will be initially pledged as collateral to secure the obligations of each Equity Unit holder under the related Purchase Contracts. Each series of the Debt Securities will be subject to a remarketing and sold on behalf of participating holders to investors. The proceeds of a remarketing, net of any related fees, will be applied on behalf of participating holders who so elect to settle any obligation of the holder to pay cash under the related Purchase Contract on the applicable settlement dates. The initially-scheduled remarketing dates are October 10, 2012 for the Series C Debt Securities, September 11, 2013 for the Series D Debt Securities and October 8, 2014 for the Series E Debt Securities, subject to delay if there are one or more unsuccessful remarketings. If the initial attempted remarketing of a series is unsuccessful, up to two additional remarketing attempts will occur. At the remarketing date, the remarketing agent may reset the interest rate on the Debt Securities, subject to a reset cap for each of the first two attempted remarketings of each series. If a remarketing is successful, the reset rate will apply to all outstanding Debt Securities of the applicable tranche of the remarketed series, whether or not the holder participated in the remarketing and will become effective on the settlement date of such remarketing. If the first remarketing attempt with respect to a series is unsuccessful, the applicable Purchase Contract settlement date will be delayed for three calendar months, at which time a second remarketing attempt will occur in connection with settlement. If the second remarketing attempt is unsuccessful, one additional delay may occur on the same basis. If both additional remarketing attempts are unsuccessful, a “final failed remarketing” will have occurred, and the interest rate on such series of Debt Securities will not be reset and the holder may put such series of Debt Securities to MetLife, Inc. at a price equal to its principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, and apply the principal amount against the holder’s obligations under the related Purchase Contract.