Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions	Total	Total MetLife, Inc.'s Stockholders' Equity	Preferred Stock	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 Income (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
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010 (Previously Reported [Member])	$ 48,996	$ 48,625	$ 1	$ 10	$ 26,423	$ (172)	$ 21,363	$ 3,356	$ (366)	$ (541)	$ (1,449)	$ 371
Beginning Balance (Accounting Standards Update 2010-26 [Member])	(1,778)	(1,772)					(1,917)	132		13		(6)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	47,218	46,853	1	10	26,423	(172)	19,446	3,488	(366)	(528)	(1,449)	365
Redemption of convertible preferred stock	(2,805)	(2,805)			(2,805)
Preferred stock redemption premium	(146)	(146)					(146)
Common stock issuance - newly issued shares	2,950	2,950		1	2,949
Stock-based compensation	101	101			101
Dividends on preferred stock	(30)	(30)					(30)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	36	0										36
Net income (loss)	874	877					877					(3)	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	100	99						(360)	27	413	19	1
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2011	48,298	47,899	1	11	26,668	(172)	20,147	3,128	(339)	(115)	(1,430)	399
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011 (Previously Reported [Member])	60,171
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	57,889	57,519	1	11	26,782	(172)	24,814	9,115	(441)	(648)	(1,943)	370
Redemption of convertible preferred stock	0
Preferred stock redemption premium	0
Stock-based compensation	138	138			138
Dividends on preferred stock	(30)	(30)					(30)
Change in equity of noncontrolling interests	(41)											(41)
Net income (loss)	(136)	(144)					(144)					8	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	1,190	1,183						814	31	313	25	7
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	$ 59,010	$ 58,666	$ 1	$ 11	$ 26,920	$ (172)	$ 24,640	$ 9,929	$ (410)	$ (335)	$ (1,918)	$ 344

[1] Net income (loss) at March 31, 2012 and 2011, attributable to noncontrolling interests excludes gains (losses) of redeemable noncontrolling interests in partially owned consolidated subsidiaries of $16 million and $10 million, respectively.