Subsequent Event	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Subsequent Event [Abstract]
Subsequent Event	19. Subsequent Events *Remarketing of Senior Debt Securities and Settlement of Stock Purchase Contracts* In October 2012, MetLife, Inc. closed the successful remarketing of the Series C portion of the senior debt securities underlying the common equity units. The Series C senior debt securities were remarketed as 1.756% Series C senior debt securities Tranche 1 and 3.048% Series C senior debt securities Tranche 2, due December 2017 and 2022, respectively. MetLife, Inc. did not receive any proceeds from the remarketing. Common equity unit holders used the remarketing proceeds to settle their payment obligations under the applicable stock purchase contract. The subsequent settlement of the stock purchase contracts occurred in October 2012, providing proceeds to MetLife, Inc. of $1.0 billion in exchange for shares of MetLife, Inc.’s common stock. MetLife, Inc. delivered 28,231,956 shares of its newly issued common stock to settle the stock purchase contracts. See Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report for additional information. *Common Stock Dividend* In October 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an annual dividend for 2012 of $0.74 per common share payable on December 14, 2012 to stockholders of record as of November 9, 2012. The Company estimates the aggregate dividend payment to be $812 million. *Hurricane Sandy* On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in the United States causing loss of lives and extensive property damage. Because of the limited information available, the Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate the impact of the hurricane on its property & casualty insurance operations or other businesses.

Subsequent Event

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

19. Subsequent Events

Remarketing of Senior Debt Securities and Settlement of Stock Purchase Contracts

In October 2012, MetLife, Inc. closed the successful remarketing of the Series C portion of the senior debt securities underlying the common equity units. The Series C senior debt securities were remarketed as 1.756% Series C senior debt securities Tranche 1 and 3.048% Series C senior debt securities Tranche 2, due December 2017 and 2022, respectively. MetLife, Inc. did not receive any proceeds from the remarketing. Common equity unit holders used the remarketing proceeds to settle their payment obligations under the applicable stock purchase contract. The subsequent settlement of the stock purchase contracts occurred in October 2012, providing proceeds to MetLife, Inc. of $1.0 billion in exchange for shares of MetLife, Inc.’s common stock. MetLife, Inc. delivered 28,231,956 shares of its newly issued common stock to settle the stock purchase contracts. See Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report for additional information.

Common Stock Dividend

In October 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an annual dividend for 2012 of $0.74 per common share payable on December 14, 2012 to stockholders of record as of November 9, 2012. The Company estimates the aggregate dividend payment to be $812 million.

Hurricane Sandy

On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in the United States causing loss of lives and extensive property damage. Because of the limited information available, the Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate the impact of the hurricane on its property & casualty insurance operations or other businesses.