Investments (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Investments [Abstract]

Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale

	June 30, 2012
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized						Estimated Fair Value		% of Total
			Gains		Temporary Losses		OTTI Losses
	(In millions)
Fixed Maturity Securities:
U.S. corporate securities	$	101,275	$	9,941	$	843	$	—	$	110,373		30.1	%
Foreign corporate securities		59,878		4,116		648		1		63,345		17.3
Foreign government securities		51,582		4,780		169		—		56,193		15.3
U.S. Treasury and agency securities		41,217		6,629		5		—		47,841		13.1
Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)		40,077		2,378		726		665		41,064		11.2
Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)		18,270		850		103		—		19,017		5.2
State and political subdivision securities		12,744		1,962		92		—		14,614		4.0
Asset-backed securities (“ABS”)		13,828		294		217		13		13,892		3.8
Total fixed maturity securities	$	338,871	$	30,950	$	2,803	$	679	$	366,339		100.0	%
Equity Securities:
Common stock	$	2,060	$	95	$	61	$	—	$	2,094		72.7	%
Non-redeemable preferred stock		913		35		160		—		788		27.3
Total equity securities	$	2,973	$	130	$	221	$	—	$	2,882		100.0	%

	December 31, 2011
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized						Estimated Fair Value		% of Total
			Gains		Temporary Losses		OTTI Losses
	(In millions)
Fixed Maturity Securities:
U.S. corporate securities	$	98,621	$	8,544	$	1,380	$	—	$	105,785		30.2	%
Foreign corporate securities		61,568		3,789		1,338		1		64,018		18.3
Foreign government securities		49,840		3,053		357		—		52,536		15.0
U.S. Treasury and agency securities		34,132		5,882		2		—		40,012		11.4
RMBS		42,092		2,281		1,033		703		42,637		12.2
CMBS		18,565		730		218		8		19,069		5.4
State and political subdivision securities		11,975		1,416		156		—		13,235		3.8
ABS		13,018		278		305		12		12,979		3.7
Total fixed maturity securities	$	329,811	$	25,973	$	4,789	$	724	$	350,271		100.0	%
Equity Securities:
Common stock	$	2,219	$	83	$	97	$	—	$	2,205		72.9	%
Non-redeemable preferred stock		989		31		202		—		818		27.1
Total equity securities	$	3,208	$	114	$	299	$	—	$	3,023		100.0	%

Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities by contractual maturity date

	June 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
	Amortized Cost		Estimated Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Estimated Fair Value
	(In millions)
Due in one year or less	$	18,012	$	18,173	$	16,747	$	16,862
Due after one year through five years		70,897		73,297		62,819		64,414
Due after five years through ten years		80,653		88,403		82,694		88,036
Due after ten years		97,134		112,493		93,876		106,274
Subtotal		266,696		292,366		256,136		275,586
RMBS, CMBS and ABS		72,175		73,973		73,675		74,685
Total fixed maturity securities	$	338,871	$	366,339	$	329,811	$	350,271

Components of net unrealized investment gains (losses) included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

	June 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities	$	28,068		$	21,096
Fixed maturity securities with noncredit OTTI losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(679	)		(724	)
Total fixed maturity securities		27,389			20,372
Equity securities		(52	)		(167	)
Derivatives		1,832			1,514
Other		31			72
Subtotal		29,200			21,791
Amounts allocated from:
Insurance liability loss recognition		(5,669	)		(3,996	)
DAC and VOBA related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		42			47
DAC and VOBA		(2,205	)		(1,800	)
Policyholder dividend obligation		(3,369	)		(2,919	)
Subtotal		(11,201	)		(8,668	)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		222			236
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)		(6,722	)		(4,694	)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)		11,499			8,665
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests		6			9
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to MetLife, Inc.	$	11,505		$	8,674

	Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
	(In millions)
Balance, beginning of period	$	8,674
Fixed maturity securities on which noncredit OTTI losses have been recognized		45
Unrealized investment gains (losses) during the period		7,364
Unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to:
Insurance liability gain (loss) recognition		(1,673	)
DAC and VOBA related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(5	)
DAC and VOBA		(405	)
Policyholder dividend obligation		(450	)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(14	)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)		(2,028	)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)		11,508
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(3	)
Balance, end of period	$	11,505
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses)	$	2,834
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(3	)
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) attributable to MetLife, Inc.	$	2,831

Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale

	June 30, 2012
	Less than 12 Months				Equal to or Greater than 12 Months				Total
	Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses
	(In millions, except number of securities)
Fixed Maturity Securities:
U.S. corporate securities	$	9,639	$	276	$	4,461	$	567	$	14,100	$	843
Foreign corporate securities		7,694		279		3,733		370		11,427		649
Foreign government securities		1,811		97		784		72		2,595		169
U.S. Treasury and agency securities		13,208		5		—		—		13,208		5
RMBS		2,532		342		4,734		1,049		7,266		1,391
CMBS		1,159		28		775		75		1,934		103
State and political subdivision securities		339		4		415		88		754		92
ABS		3,484		62		1,513		168		4,997		230
Total fixed maturity securities	$	39,866	$	1,093	$	16,415	$	2,389	$	56,281	$	3,482
Equity Securities:
Common stock	$	527	$	59	$	20	$	2	$	547	$	61
Non-redeemable preferred stock		38		11		312		149		350		160
Total equity securities	$	565	$	70	$	332	$	151	$	897	$	221
Total number of securities in an unrealized loss position		3,191				1,646

	December 31, 2011
	Less than 12 Months				Equal to or Greater than 12 Months				Total
	Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses
	(In millions, except number of securities)
Fixed Maturity Securities:
U.S. corporate securities	$	15,642	$	590	$	5,135	$	790	$	20,777	$	1,380
Foreign corporate securities		12,618		639		5,957		700		18,575		1,339
Foreign government securities		11,227		230		1,799		127		13,026		357
U.S. Treasury and agency securities		2,611		1		50		1		2,661		2
RMBS		4,040		547		4,724		1,189		8,764		1,736
CMBS		2,825		135		678		91		3,503		226
State and political subdivision securities		177		2		1,007		154		1,184		156
ABS		4,972		103		1,316		214		6,288		317
Total fixed maturity securities	$	54,112	$	2,247	$	20,666	$	3,266	$	74,778	$	5,513
Equity Securities:
Common stock	$	581	$	96	$	5	$	1	$	586	$	97
Non-redeemable preferred stock		204		30		370		172		574		202
Total equity securities	$	785	$	126	$	375	$	173	$	1,160	$	299
Total number of securities in an unrealized loss position		3,978				1,963

Aging of Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Debt and Equity Securities Available for Sale

	June 30, 2012
	Cost or Amortized Cost				Gross Unrealized Losses						Number of Securities
	Less than 20%		20% or more		Less than 20%			20% or more			Less than 20%		20% or more
	(In millions, except number of securities)
Fixed Maturity Securities:
Less than six months	$	30,061	$	1,073	$	340		$	272			2,142		125
Six months or greater but less than nine months		2,582		337		110			98			276		51
Nine months or greater but less than twelve months		7,520		1,256		354			397			567		72
Twelve months or greater		14,401		2,533		1,009			902			1,314		180
Total	$	54,564	$	5,199	$	1,813		$	1,669
Percentage of amortized cost						3	%		32	%
Equity Securities:
Less than six months	$	333	$	72	$	24		$	19			118		33
Six months or greater but less than nine months		84		43		8			12			10		2
Nine months or greater but less than twelve months		148		112		19			34			32		7
Twelve months or greater		103		223		5			100			22		15
Total	$	668	$	450	$	56		$	165
Percentage of cost						8	%		37	%

	December 31, 2011
	Cost or Amortized Cost				Gross Unrealized Losses						Number of Securities
	Less than 20%		20% or more		Less than 20%			20% or more			Less than 20%		20% or more
	(In millions, except number of securities)
Fixed Maturity Securities:
Less than six months	$	49,249	$	4,736	$	1,346		$	1,332			3,260		320
Six months or greater but less than nine months		4,104		1,049		279			349			375		63
Nine months or greater but less than twelve months		1,160		288		55			93			143		14
Twelve months or greater		17,590		2,115		1,216			843			1,523		167
Total	$	72,103	$	8,188	$	2,896		$	2,617
Percentage of amortized cost						4	%		32	%
Equity Securities:
Less than six months	$	714	$	376	$	64		$	123			154		42
Six months or greater but less than nine months		22		8		2			4			19		3
Nine months or greater but less than twelve months		18		—		2			—			8		—
Twelve months or greater		98		223		8			96			24		20
Total	$	852	$	607	$	76		$	223
Percentage of cost						9	%		37	%

Concentration of Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale

	June 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
Sector:
RMBS		38	%		30	%
U.S. corporate securities		23			24
Foreign corporate securities		17			23
ABS		6			5
Foreign government securities		5			6
CMBS		3			4
State and political subdivision securities		2			3
Other		6			5
Total		100	%		100	%
Industry:
Mortgage-backed		41	%		34	%
Finance		20			27
Utility		7			8
Asset-backed		6			5
Consumer		6			6
Foreign government securities		5			6
Communications		3			3
State and political subdivision securities		2			3
Industrial		2			2
Other		8			6
Total		100	%		100	%

Gross unrealized loss greater than $10 million for fixed maturity and equity securities

	June 30, 2012						December 31, 2011
	Fixed Maturity Securities			Equity Securities			Fixed Maturity Securities			Equity Securities
	(In millions, except number of securities)
Number of securities		56			6			96			8
Total gross unrealized losses	$	1,049		$	99		$	1,703		$	117
Percentage of total gross unrealized losses		30	%		45	%		31	%		39	%

Equity securities available-for-sale with a gross unrealized loss of 20% or more

			Non-Redeemable Preferred Stock
	All Equity Securities		All Types of Non-Redeemable Preferred Stock					Investment Grade
								All Industries					Financial Services Industry
	Gross Unrealized Losses		Gross Unrealized Losses		% of All Equity Securities			Gross Unrealized Losses		% of All Non-Redeemable Preferred Stock			Gross Unrealized Losses		% of All Industries			% A Rated or Better
	(In millions)							(In millions)					(In millions)
Less than six months	$	19	$	10		53	%	$	7		70	%	$	7		100	%		86	%
Six months or greater but less than twelve months		46		46		100	%		27		59	%		27		100	%		37	%
Twelve months or greater		100		100		100	%		100		100	%		100		100	%		75	%
All equity securities with gross unrealized losses of 20% or more	$	165	$	156		95	%	$	134		86	%	$	134		100	%		68	%

Trading Securities Portfolio

	June 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In millions)
Actively Traded Securities	$	535		$	473
FVO general account securities		264			267
FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments		17,459			17,411
FVO securities held by CSEs		70			117
Total trading and other securities — at estimated fair value	$	18,328		$	18,268
Actively Traded Securities — at estimated fair value	$	535		$	473
Short sale agreement liabilities — at estimated fair value		(140	)		(127	)
Net long/short position — at estimated fair value	$	395		$	346
Investments pledged to secure short sale agreement liabilities	$	601		$	558

The components of net investment gains (losses)

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(In millions)
Total gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities:
Total OTTI losses recognized	$	(118	)	$	(298	)	$	(253	)	$	(430	)
Less: Noncredit portion of OTTI losses transferred to and recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)		27			175			29			184
Net OTTI losses on fixed maturity securities recognized in earnings		(91	)		(123	)		(224	)		(246	)
Fixed maturity securities — net gains (losses) on sales and disposals (1)		73			18			66			(22	)
Total gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities		(18	)		(105	)		(158	)		(268	)
Other net investment gains (losses):
Equity securities		19			(70	)		10			(34	)
Trading and other securities — FVO general account securities—changes in estimated fair value subsequent to purchase		(1	)		—			3			—
Mortgage loans (1)		13			68			49			115
Real estate and real estate joint ventures		(16	)		4			(20	)		5
Other limited partnership interests		(9	)		5			(11	)		8
Other investment portfolio gains (losses)		(10	)		(6	)		(35	)		(2	)
Subtotal — investment portfolio gains (losses)		(22	)		(104	)		(162	)		(176	)
FVO CSEs — changes in estimated fair value:
Commercial mortgage loans		(7	)		7			(1	)		25
Securities		—			39			—			(1	)
Long-term debt — related to commercial mortgage loans		10			(8	)		10			(8	)
Long-term debt — related to securities		1			(54	)		(10	)		(7	)
Other gains (losses) (2)		(46	)		(35	)		(11	)		(87	)
Subtotal FVO CSEs and other gains (losses)		(42	)		(51	)		(12	)		(78	)
Total net investment gains (losses)	$	(64	)	$	(155	)	$	(174	)	$	(254	)

(1) Net investment gains (losses) for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012 includes a net gain (loss) of ($35) million and $60 million, respectively, as a result of the pending disposition of certain operations of MetLife Bank, which is comprised of gains (losses) on securities and mortgage loans sold of ($27) million and $75 million, and impairments on mortgage loans of ($8) million and ($15) million, for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. See Note 2.

(2) Other gains (losses) for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011 includes a loss of $7 million and $87 million, respectively, related to the sale of the Company’s investment in Mitsui Sumitomo MetLife Insurance Co., Ltd (“MSI MetLife”). See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report.

Proceeds from sales or disposals of fixed maturity and equity securities and the components of fixed maturity and equity securities net investment gains and losses

	Three Months Ended June 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011
	Fixed Maturity Securities						Equity Securities						Total
	(In millions)
Proceeds	$	15,625		$	19,316		$	238		$	489		$	15,863		$	19,805
Gross investment gains	$	225		$	235		$	23		$	26		$	248		$	261
Gross investment losses		(152	)		(217	)		(2	)		(49	)		(154	)		(266	)
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings:
Credit-related		(68	)		(70	)		—			—			(68	)		(70	)
Other (1)		(23	)		(53	)		(2	)		(47	)		(25	)		(100	)
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings		(91	)		(123	)		(2	)		(47	)		(93	)		(170	)
Net investment gains (losses)	$	(18	)	$	(105	)	$	19		$	(70	)	$	1		$	(175	)

	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011
	Fixed Maturity Securities						Equity Securities						Total
	(In millions)
Proceeds	$	35,019		$	35,848		$	363		$	805		$	35,382		$	36,653
Gross investment gains	$	550		$	428		$	33		$	74		$	583		$	502
Gross investment losses		(484	)		(450	)		(6	)		(55	)		(490	)		(505	)
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings:
Credit-related		(141	)		(113	)		—			—			(141	)		(113	)
Other (1)		(83	)		(133	)		(17	)		(53	)		(100	)		(186	)
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings		(224	)		(246	)		(17	)		(53	)		(241	)		(299	)
Net investment gains (losses)	$	(158	)	$	(268	)	$	10		$	(34	)	$	(148	)	$	(302	)

(1) Other OTTI losses recognized in earnings include impairments on equity securities, impairments on perpetual hybrid securities classified within fixed maturity securities where the primary reason for the impairment was the severity and/or the duration of an unrealized loss position and fixed maturity securities where there is an intent-to-sell or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of the decline in estimated fair value.

Rollforward of the Cumulative Credit Loss Component of OTTI income (loss)

	Three Months Ended June  30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(In millions)
Balance, beginning of period	$	381		$	389		$	471		$	443
Additions:
Initial impairments — credit loss OTTI on securities not previously impaired		21			18			37			26
Additional impairments — credit loss OTTI on securities previously impaired		20			24			26			40
Reductions:
Sales, maturities, pay downs and prepayments during the period on securities previously impaired as credit loss OTTI		(15	)		(26	)		(119	)		(55	)
Securities impaired to net present value of expected future cash flows		(15	)		—			(23	)		(44	)
Increases in cash flows — accretion of previous credit loss OTTI		(1	)		(4	)		(1	)		(9	)
Balance, end of period	$	391		$	401		$	391		$	401

The Components of Net Investment Income

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012			2011			2012		2011
	(In millions)
Investment income:
Fixed maturity securities	$	3,737		$	3,791		$	7,545	$	7,474
Equity securities		38			48			70		78
Trading and other securities — Actively Traded Securities and FVO general account securities (1)		(1	)		16			44		44
Mortgage loans		764			766			1,594		1,525
Policy loans		156			160			314		320
Real estate and real estate joint ventures		280			187			457		333
Other limited partnership interests		266			159			448		402
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments		39			44			75		90
International joint ventures (2)		1			7			4		(14	)
Other		80			101			121		69
Subtotal		5,360			5,279			10,672		10,321
Less: Investment expenses		258			249			517		494
Subtotal, net		5,102			5,030			10,155		9,827
Trading and other securities — FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments (1)		(517	)		(32	)		498		387
Securitized reverse residential mortgage loans		89			—			174		—
FVO CSEs:
Commercial mortgage loans		44			96			89		191
Securities		1			—			3		1
Subtotal		(383	)		64			764		579
Net investment income	$	4,719		$	5,094		$	10,919	$	10,406

(1) Changes in estimated fair value subsequent to purchase for securities still held as of the end of the respective periods included in net investment income were:

Actively Traded Securities and FVO general account securities	$	(5	)	$	—		$	24	$	21
FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments	$	(378	)	$	(84	)	$	499	$	232

(2) Amounts are presented net of changes in estimated fair value of derivatives related to economic hedges of the Company’s investment in these equity method international joint venture investments that do not qualify for hedge accounting of $0 for both the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, and less than $1 million and $23 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively.

Securities Lending

	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(In millions)
Securities on loan: (1)
Amortized cost	$	24,580	$	20,613
Estimated fair value	$	28,719	$	24,072
Cash collateral on deposit from counterparties (2)	$	29,491	$	24,223
Security collateral on deposit from counterparties	$	165	$	371
Reinvestment portfolio — estimated fair value	$	29,340	$	23,940

(1) Included within fixed maturity securities, short-term investments, equity securities and cash and cash equivalents.

(2) Included within payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions.

Invested Assets on Deposit, Held in Trust and Pledged as Collateral

	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(In millions)
Invested assets on deposit (1)	$	2,364	$	1,660
Invested assets held in trust (2)		10,934		11,135
Invested assets pledged as collateral (3)		22,948		29,899
Total invested assets on deposit, held in trust and pledged as collateral	$	36,246	$	42,694

(1) The Company has invested assets on deposit with regulatory agencies consisting primarily of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, fixed maturity securities and equity securities.

(2) The Company held in trust cash and securities, primarily fixed maturity and equity securities, to satisfy requirements under certain collateral financing agreements and certain reinsurance agreements.

(3) The Company has pledged fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans and cash and cash equivalents in connection with various agreements and transactions, including funding and advances agreements (see Notes 8 and 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report), collateralized borrowings (see Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report), collateral financing arrangements (see Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report), derivative transactions (see Note 4), and short sale agreements (see “— Trading and Other Securities”).

Disclosure of Mortgage Loans Net of Valuation Allowance

	June 30, 2012						December 31, 2011
	Carrying Value			% of Total			Carrying Value			% of Total
	(In millions)						(In millions)
Mortgage loans held-for-investment:
Commercial	$	41,035			69.6	%	$	40,440			56.1	%
Agricultural		12,848			21.8			13,129			18.2
Residential		747			1.3			689			1.0
Subtotal		54,630			92.7			54,258			75.3
Valuation allowances		(361	)		(0.6	)		(481	)		(0.7	)
Subtotal mortgage loans held-for-investment, net		54,269			92.1			53,777			74.6
Commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs		2,932			5.0			3,138			4.4
Total mortgage loans held-for-investment, net		57,201			97.1			56,915			79.0
Mortgage loans held-for-sale:
Residential (1)		202			0.3			3,064			4.2
Mortgage loans — lower of amortized cost or estimated fair value (1)		1,279			2.2			4,462			6.2
Securitized reverse residential mortgage loans (1)		259			0.4			7,652			10.6
Total mortgage loans held-for-sale		1,740			2.9			15,178			21.0
Total mortgage loans, net	$	58,941			100.0	%	$	72,093			100.0	%

(1) In connection with the pending dispositions of certain operations of MetLife Bank, the Company is exiting the businesses of originating forward and reverse residential mortgage loans. Additionally, as a result of the sale of the majority of MetLife Bank’s reverse mortgage servicing rights, the Company de-recognized the majority of the securitized reverse residential mortgage loans. See Note 2.

Disclosure of mortgage loans held-for-investment and valuation allowances by method of evaluation for credit loss

	Commercial		Agricultural		Residential		Total
	(In millions)
June 30, 2012:
Mortgage loans:
Evaluated individually for credit losses	$	202	$	99	$	12	$	313
Evaluated collectively for credit losses		40,833		12,749		735		54,317
Total mortgage loans		41,035		12,848		747		54,630
Valuation allowances:
Specific credit losses		64		28		1		93
Non-specifically identified credit losses		236		31		1		268
Total valuation allowances		300		59		2		361
Mortgage loans, net of valuation allowance	$	40,735	$	12,789	$	745	$	54,269
December 31, 2011:
Mortgage loans:
Evaluated individually for credit losses	$	96	$	159	$	13	$	268
Evaluated collectively for credit losses		40,344		12,970		676		53,990
Total mortgage loans		40,440		13,129		689		54,258
Valuation allowances:
Specific credit losses		59		45		1		105
Non-specifically identified credit losses		339		36		1		376
Total valuation allowances		398		81		2		481
Mortgage loans, net of valuation allowance	$	40,042	$	13,048	$	687	$	53,777

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, Provision for Loss, Net

	Mortgage Loan Valuation Allowances
	Commercial			Agricultural			Residential			Total
	(In millions)
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012:
Balance, beginning of period	$	368		$	75		$	3		$	446
Provision (release)		(68	)		—			5			(63	)
Charge-offs, net of recoveries		—			(16	)		—			(16	)
Transfers to held-for-sale		—			—			(6	)		(6	)
Balance, end of period	$	300		$	59		$	2		$	361
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2011:
Balance, beginning of period	$	532		$	76		$	13		$	621
Provision (release)		(63	)		3			5			(55	)
Charge-offs, net of recoveries		—			—			—			—
Balance, end of period	$	469		$	79		$	18		$	566
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012:
Balance, beginning of period	$	398		$	81		$	2		$	481
Provision (release)		(98	)		(6	)		6			(98	)
Charge-offs, net of recoveries		—			(16	)		—			(16	)
Transfers to held-for-sale		—			—			(6	)		(6	)
Balance, end of period	$	300		$	59		$	2		$	361
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2011:
Balance, beginning of period	$	562		$	88		$	14		$	664
Provision (release)		(93	)		(6	)		5			(94	)
Charge-offs, net of recoveries		—			(3	)		(1	)		(4	)
Balance, end of period	$	469		$	79		$	18		$	566

Schedule of Financing Receivables, Non Accrual Status

	Past Due				Greater than 90 Days Past Due Still Accruing Interest				Nonaccrual Status
	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011		June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011		June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(In millions)
Commercial	$	—	$	63	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	63
Agricultural		139		146		47		29		95		157
Residential		6		8		—		—		16		17
Total	$	145	$	217	$	47	$	29	$	111	$	237

Impaired mortgage loans held-for-investment

	Impaired Mortgage Loans
	Loans with a Valuation Allowance								Loans without a Valuation Allowance				All Impaired Loans
	Unpaid Principal Balance		Recorded Investment		Valuation Allowances		Carrying Value		Unpaid Principal Balance		Recorded Investment		Unpaid Principal Balance		Carrying Value
	(In millions)
June 30, 2012:
Commercial	$	214	$	202	$	64	$	138	$	102	$	102	$	316	$	240
Agricultural		100		99		28		71		105		99		205		170
Residential		12		12		1		11		—		—		12		11
Total	$	326	$	313	$	93	$	220	$	207	$	201	$	533	$	421
December 31, 2011:
Commercial	$	96	$	96	$	59	$	37	$	252	$	237	$	348	$	274
Agricultural		160		159		45		114		71		69		231		183
Residential		13		13		1		12		1		1		14		13
Total	$	269	$	268	$	105	$	163	$	324	$	307	$	593	$	470

	Impaired Mortgage Loans
	Average Recorded  Investment		Interest Income Recognized
			Cash Basis		Accrual Basis
	(In millions)
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012:
Commercial	$	258	$	—	$	—
Agricultural		214		—		2
Residential		12		—		—
Total	$	484	$	—	$	2
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2011:
Commercial	$	292	$	—	$	—
Agricultural		255		—		1
Residential		32		—		—
Total	$	579	$	—	$	1
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012:
Commercial	$	283	$	3	$	—
Agricultural		219		1		2
Residential		13		—		—
Total	$	515	$	4	$	2
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2011:
Commercial	$	264	$	3	$	1
Agricultural		268		2		1
Residential		28		—		—
Total	$	560	$	5	$	2

Mortgage loans modified in a troubled debt restructuring

	Mortgage Loans Modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring
	Number of Mortgage Loans		Carrying Value after Specific Valuation Allowance
			Pre-Modification		Post-Modification
			(In millions)
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2011:
Commercial		1	$	6	$	7
Agricultural		5		17		16
Total		6	$	23	$	23
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2011:
Commercial		2	$	59	$	60
Agricultural		7		26		27
Total		9	$	85	$	87

Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]

Other than temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings

	Six Months Ended June 30, 2012			Year Ended December 31,  2011
	(In millions)
Balance, beginning of period	$	(724	)	$	(601	)
Noncredit OTTI losses recognized (1)		(29	)		31
Securities sold with previous noncredit OTTI loss		76			125
Subsequent changes in estimated fair value		(2	)		(279	)
Balance, end of period	$	(679	)	$	(724	)

(1) Noncredit OTTI losses recognized, net of DAC, were ($61) million and $33 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and year ended December 31, 2011, respectively.

Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Variable Interest Entities

	June 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
	Total Assets		Total Liabilities		Total Assets		Total Liabilities
	(In millions)
CSEs (1)	$	3,037	$	2,846	$	3,299	$	3,103
MRSC collateral financing arrangement (2)		3,383		—		3,333		—
Other limited partnership interests		320		15		360		6
Trading and other securities		96		—		163		—
Other invested assets		85		—		102		1
Real estate joint ventures		11		14		16		18
Total	$	6,932	$	2,875	$	7,273	$	3,128

(1) The Company consolidates former qualified special purpose entities (“QSPEs”) that are structured as CMBS and former QSPEs that are structured as collateralized debt obligations. The assets of these entities can only be used to settle their respective liabilities, and under no circumstances is the Company liable for any principal or interest shortfalls should any arise. The Company’s exposure was limited to that of its remaining investment in the former QSPEs of $177 million and $172 million at estimated fair value at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The long-term debt presented below bears interest primarily at fixed rates ranging from 2.25% to 5.57%, payable primarily on a monthly basis and is expected to be repaid over the next four years. Interest expense related to these obligations, included in other expenses, was $42 million and $85 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and $92 million and $184 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. The assets and liabilities of these CSEs, at estimated fair value, were as follows at:

	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(In millions)
Assets:
Mortgage loans held-for-investment (commercial mortgage loans)	$	2,932	$	3,138
Trading and other securities		70		117
Accrued investment income		14		16
Cash and cash equivalents		21		21
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables		—		7
Total assets	$	3,037	$	3,299
Liabilities:
Long-term debt	$	2,821	$	3,068
Other liabilities		25		35
Total liabilities	$	2,846	$	3,103

(2) See Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report for a description of the MetLife Reinsurance Company of South Carolina (“MRSC”) collateral financing arrangement. These assets consist of the following, at estimated fair value, except for mortgage loans, which are presented at carrying value, at:

	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:
ABS	$	1,456	$	1,356
U.S. corporate securities		891		833
RMBS		483		502
CMBS		300		369
Foreign corporate securities		125		126
State and political subdivision securities		34		39
Mortgage loans		49		49
Cash and cash equivalents		45		59
Total	$	3,383	$	3,333

Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Variable Interest Entities

	June 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
	Carrying Amount		Maximum Exposure to Loss (1)		Carrying Amount		Maximum Exposure to Loss (1)
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:
RMBS (2)	$	41,064	$	41,064	$	42,637	$	42,637
CMBS (2)		19,017		19,017		19,069		19,069
ABS (2)		13,892		13,892		12,979		12,979
U.S. corporate securities		2,892		2,892		2,911		2,911
Foreign corporate securities		2,005		2,005		2,087		2,087
Other limited partnership interests		4,508		5,994		4,340		6,084
Other invested assets		920		1,223		799		1,194
Trading and other securities		609		609		671		671
Mortgage loans		370		370		456		456
Real estate joint ventures		108		121		61		79
Total	$	85,385	$	87,187	$	86,010	$	88,167

(1) The maximum exposure to loss relating to the fixed maturity and trading and other securities is equal to their estimated fair value. The maximum exposure to loss relating to the other limited partnership interests, real estate joint ventures and mortgage loans is equal to the carrying amounts plus any unfunded commitments of the Company. Such a maximum loss would be expected to occur only upon bankruptcy of the issuer, borrower or investee. For certain of its investments in other invested assets, the Company’s return is in the form of income tax credits which are guaranteed by a creditworthy third party. For such investments, the maximum exposure to loss is equal to the carrying amounts plus any unfunded commitments, reduced by income tax credits guaranteed by third parties of $348 million and $267 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

(2) For these variable interests, the Company’s involvement is limited to that of a passive investor.

Commercial mortgage loans portfolio segment [Member]

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]

Disclosure of the mortgage loans portfolio segment by the recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by credit quality indicator categories

	Commercial
	Recorded Investment
	Debt Service Coverage Ratios						Total		% of Total			Estimated Fair Value		% of Total
	> 1.20x		1.00x - 1.20x		< 1.00x
	(In millions)											(In millions)
June 30, 2012:
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	28,022	$	607	$	455	$	29,084		70.9	%	$	30,840		71.8	%
65% to 75%		7,218		398		200		7,816		19.0			8,132		18.9
76% to 80%		831		96		229		1,156		2.8			1,182		2.7
Greater than 80%		1,933		717		329		2,979		7.3			2,824		6.6
Total	$	38,004	$	1,818	$	1,213	$	41,035		100.0	%	$	42,978		100.0	%
December 31, 2011:
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	24,983	$	448	$	564	$	25,995		64.3	%	$	27,581		65.5	%
65% to 75%		8,275		336		386		8,997		22.3			9,387		22.3
76% to 80%		1,150		98		226		1,474		3.6			1,473		3.5
Greater than 80%		2,714		880		380		3,974		9.8			3,664		8.7
Total	$	37,122	$	1,762	$	1,556	$	40,440		100.0	%	$	42,105		100.0	%

Agricultural mortgage loans portfolio segment [Member]

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]

Disclosure of the mortgage loans portfolio segment by the recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by credit quality indicator categories

	Agricultural
	June 30, 2012					December 31, 2011
	Recorded Investment		% of Total			Recorded Investment		% of Total
	(In millions)					(In millions)
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	11,896		92.6	%	$	11,802		89.9	%
65% to 75%		644		5.0			874		6.7
76% to 80%		16		0.1			76		0.6
Greater than 80%		292		2.3			377		2.8
Total	$	12,848		100.0	%	$	13,129		100.0	%

Residential mortgage loans portfolio segment [Member]

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]

Disclosure of the mortgage loans portfolio segment by the recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by credit quality indicator categories

	Residential
	June 30, 2012					December 31, 2011
	Recorded Investment		% of Total			Recorded Investment		% of Total
	(In millions)					(In millions)
Performance indicators:
Performing	$	730		97.7	%	$	671		97.4	%
Nonperforming		17		2.3			18		2.6
Total	$	747		100.0	%	$	689		100.0	%

Fixed maturity securities [Member]

Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]

Other than temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
	(In millions)
Sector:
U.S. and foreign corporate securities — by industry:
Utility	$	13	$	—	$	51	$	1
Finance		—		40		32		41
Communications		1		1		18		14
Consumer		9		27		12		29
Industrial		—		—		1		—
Other industries		6		—		6		—
Total U.S. and foreign corporate securities		29		68		120		85
CMBS		20		—		50		3
RMBS (1)		37		42		46		66
ABS (1)		5		—		7		3
State and political subdivision securities		—		—		1		—
Foreign government securities		—		13		—		89
Total	$	91	$	123	$	224	$	246

(1) See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report for discussion of a reclassification from the ABS sector to the RMBS sector for securities backed by sub-prime residential mortgage loans.

Equity Securities [Member]

Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]

Other than temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
	(In millions)
Sector:
Common stock	$	2	$	9	$	17	$	15
Non-redeemable preferred stock		—		38		—		38
Total	$	2	$	47	$	17	$	53
Industry:
Financial services industry — perpetual hybrid securities	$	—	$	38	$	—	$	38
Other industries		2		9		17		15
Total	$	2	$	47	$	17	$	53

US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]

Fair Value, Concentration of Risk, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]

Concentrations of Credit Risk (Fixed Maturity Securities)

	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	Carrying Value (1)
	(In millions)
U.S. Treasury and agency securities included in:
Fixed maturity securities	$	47,841	$	40,012
Short-term investments		15,860		15,775
Cash equivalents		2,266		1,748
Total U.S. Treasury and agency securities	$	65,967	$	57,535
Japan government and agency securities included in:
Fixed maturity securities	$	21,746	$	21,003
Cash equivalents		29		—
Total Japan government and agency securities	$	21,775	$	21,003

(1) Represents estimated fair value for fixed maturity securities, and for short-term investments and cash equivalents, estimated fair value or amortized cost, which approximates estimated fair value.