Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total MetLife, Inc.'s Stockholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Treasury Stock at Cost	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Other Than Temporary Impairments [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment	Noncontrolling Interests		Noncumulative Preferred Stock	Convertible Preferred Stock
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 23,985	$ 23,734	$ 8	$ 15,811	$ (236)	$ 22,403	$ (12,564)	$ 0	$ (246)	$ (1,443)	$ 251		$ 1
Redemption of convertible preferred stock	0
Preferred stock redemption premium	0
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax (FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2 [Member])	0	0				76		(76)
Common stock issuance - newly issued shares	1,035	1,035		1,035
Treasury stock transactions, net	7	7		(7)	14
Stock-based compensation	52	52		20	32
Dividends on preferred stock	(122)	(122)				(122)
Dividends on common stock	(610)	(610)				(610)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	169										169
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	(2,278)	(2,246)				(2,246)					(32)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments, net of income tax	(116)	(116)					(116)
Unrealized investment gains (losses), net of related offsets and income tax	11,415	11,426					11,863	(437)			(11)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	63	63							63
Defined benefit plans adjustment, net of income tax	(102)	(102)								(102)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	11,260	11,271									(11)
Comprehensive income (loss)	8,982	9,025									(43)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009 (Previously Reported)	33,498	33,121	8	16,859	(190)	19,501	(817)	(513)	(183)	(1,545)	377		1
Ending Balance (Accounting Standards Update 2009-17 [Member])	30	30				(12)	31	11
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	33,528	33,151	8	16,859	(190)	19,489	(786)	(502)	(183)	(1,545)	377		1
Redemption of convertible preferred stock	0
Preferred stock redemption premium	0
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax (Accounting Standards Update 2010-11 [Member])	0	0				(10)	10
Convertible preferred stock issuance	2,805	2,805		2,805										0
Common stock issuance - newly issued shares	6,729	6,729	2	6,727
Issuance of stock purchase contracts related to common equity units	(69)	(69)		(69)
Stock-based compensation	119	119		101	18
Dividends on preferred stock	(122)	(122)				(122)
Dividends on common stock	(784)	(784)				(784)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(9)										(9)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	2,788	2,790				2,790					(2)	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments, net of income tax	11	11					11
Unrealized investment gains (losses), net of related offsets and income tax	4,254	4,257					4,121	136			(3)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(350)	(358)							(358)		8
Defined benefit plans adjustment, net of income tax	96	96								96
Other comprehensive income (loss)	4,011	4,006									5
Comprehensive income (loss)	6,799	6,796									3
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	48,996	48,625	10	26,423	(172)	21,363	3,356	(366)	(541)	(1,449)	371		1	0
Redemption of convertible preferred stock	(2,805)	(2,805)		(2,805)										0
Preferred stock redemption premium	(146)	(146)				(146)								(146)
Convertible preferred stock issuance														2,800
Common stock issuance - newly issued shares	2,950	2,950	1	2,949
Stock-based compensation	215	215		215
Dividends on preferred stock	(122)	(122)				(122)
Dividends on common stock	(787)	(787)				(787)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	38										38
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	6,984	6,981				6,981					3	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments, net of income tax	1,022	1,022					1,022
Unrealized investment gains (losses), net of related offsets and income tax	4,462	4,467					4,542	(75)			(5)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(142)	(109)							(109)		(33)
Defined benefit plans adjustment, net of income tax	(494)	(494)								(494)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	4,848	4,886									(38)
Comprehensive income (loss)	11,832	11,867									(35)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 60,171	$ 59,797	$ 11	$ 26,782	$ (172)	$ 27,289	$ 8,920	$ (441)	$ (650)	$ (1,943)	$ 374		$ 1	$ 0

[1] Net income (loss) at December 31, 2011 and 2010, attributable to noncontrolling interests excludes gains (losses) of redeemable noncontrolling interests in partially owned consolidated subsidiaries of ($13) million and ($2) million, respectively.