Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	$ 12,000	$ 11,781	$ 5,047
Accumulated impairment	(65)	0	0
Goodwill total	11,935	11,781	5,047
Acquisitions	1	39	6,959
Impairments	(1,868)	0	0
Goodwill allocation		0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(115)	180	(225)
Goodwill	11,886	12,000	11,781
Accumulated impairment	(1,933)	(65)	0
Goodwill total	9,953	11,935	11,781
American Life Insurance Company [Member]
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	0	6,809	0
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	0	6,809	0
Acquisitions	0	0	6,959
Impairments	0	0
Goodwill allocation		(6,809)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	(150)
Goodwill	0	0	6,809
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	0	0	6,809
MetLife Bank [Member]
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Impairments		(65)
Latin America [Member]
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	501	229	214
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	501	229	214
Acquisitions	0	0	0
Impairments	0	0
Goodwill allocation		312
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	26	(40)	15
Goodwill	527	501	229
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	527	501	229
Asia [Member]
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	5,533	72	160
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	5,533	72	160
Acquisitions	0	39	0
Impairments	0	0
Goodwill allocation		5,163
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(146)	259	(88)
Goodwill	5,387	5,533	72
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	5,387	5,533	72
Europe, the Middle East and Africa [Member]
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	1,333	38	40
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	1,333	38	40
Acquisitions	1	0	0
Impairments	0	0
Goodwill allocation		1,334
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	5	(39)	(2)
Goodwill	1,339	1,333	38
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	1,339	1,333	38
Retail [Member]
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	3,125	3,125	3,125
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	3,125	3,125	3,125
Acquisitions	0	0	0
Impairments	(1,692)	0
Goodwill allocation		0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill	3,125	3,125	3,125
Accumulated impairment	(1,692)	0	0
Goodwill total	1,433	3,125	3,125
Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits [Member]
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	138	138	138
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	138	138	138
Acquisitions	0	0	0
Impairments	0	0
Goodwill allocation		0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill	138	138	138
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	138	138	138
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	900	900	900
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	900	900	900
Acquisitions	0	0	0
Impairments	0	0
Goodwill allocation		0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill	900	900	900
Accumulated impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill total	900	900	900
Corporate & Other [Member]
Goodwill Rollforward and by Segment
Goodwill	470	470	470
Accumulated impairment	(65)	0	0
Goodwill total	405	470	470
Acquisitions	0	0	0
Impairments	(176)	(65)
Goodwill allocation		0
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	0	0	0
Goodwill	470	470	470
Accumulated impairment	(241)	(65)	0
Goodwill total	$ 229	$ 405	$ 470

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph e

-Clause 1

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Publisher FASB

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-Number 141R

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 43

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 45

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 72

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

- Definition

The aggregate amount of goodwill acquired in the period and allocated to the reportable segment. The value is stated at fair value based on the purchase price allocation.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Loss recognized during the period that results from the write-down of goodwill after comparing the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 43

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 72

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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+ Details

- Definition

The increase (decrease) in the recorded value of goodwill for foreign currency translation adjustments and purchase accounting adjustments needed to revise the carrying amount of goodwill to fair value.

+ References

+ Details