Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Subsequent Event [Abstract]
Subsequent Event	23. Subsequent Events *Dividends* *Preferred Stock* On February 15, 2013, MetLife, Inc. announced dividends of $0.250 per share, for a total of $6 million, on its Series A preferred shares, and $0.406 per share, for a total of $24 million, on its Series B preferred shares, subject to the final confirmation that it has met the financial tests specified in the Series A and Series B preferred shares, which the Company anticipates will be made on or about March 5, 2013. Both dividends will be payable March 15, 2013 to shareholders of record as of February 28, 2013. *Common Stock* On January 4, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a first quarter 2013 dividend of $0.185 per common share payable on March 13, 2013 to stockholders of record as of February 6, 2013. The Company estimates the aggregate dividend payment to be $203 million. *Japan Income Tax Refund* In December 2012, the Tokyo District Court ruled in favor of the Japan branch of American Life in a tax case related to the deduction of unrealized foreign exchange losses on certain securities held by American Life prior to the ALICO Acquisition. Subsequent to the ruling, American Life will receive a refund of ¥16 billion ($190 million) related to income tax, interest and penalties, of which $160 million has been collected at December 31, 2012. Under the indemnification provisions of the Stock Purchase Agreement, MetLife Inc. is required to remit the refund to AIG net of certain amounts it can retain as a counter claim. The receipt of the refund, net of obligations to AIG and corresponding U.S. tax effects, is expected to result in a $30 million charge to net income and a slight decrease in the Company’s overall effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2013. *Disposition and Pending Acquisition* See Note 3 for discussion of the MetLife Bank Divestiture. On February 1, 2013, MetLife, Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (“BBVA”) and BBVA Inversiones Chile S.A. (“BBVA Inversiones,” and, together with BBVA, the “BBVA Sellers”) to acquire Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Provida S.A. (“Provida”), the largest private pension fund administrator in Chile by assets under management and number of contributors. Under the terms of the agreement, MetLife will conduct a public cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Provida, and the BBVA Sellers have agreed to transfer their 64.3% stake to MetLife. Assuming all publicly-held shares are tendered, the purchase price, which MetLife, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries will fund from their existing cash balances, would be approximately $2 billion. The transaction is anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2013, subject to receipt of certain regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.

Subsequent Events

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

23. Subsequent Events

Dividends

Preferred Stock

On February 15, 2013, MetLife, Inc. announced dividends of $0.250 per share, for a total of $6 million, on its Series A preferred shares, and $0.406 per share, for a total of $24 million, on its Series B preferred shares, subject to the final confirmation that it has met the financial tests specified in the Series A and Series B preferred shares, which the Company anticipates will be made on or about March 5, 2013. Both dividends will be payable March 15, 2013 to shareholders of record as of February 28, 2013.

Common Stock

On January 4, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a first quarter 2013 dividend of $0.185 per common share payable on March 13, 2013 to stockholders of record as of February 6, 2013. The Company estimates the aggregate dividend payment to be $203 million.

Japan Income Tax Refund

In December 2012, the Tokyo District Court ruled in favor of the Japan branch of American Life in a tax case related to the deduction of unrealized foreign exchange losses on certain securities held by American Life prior to the ALICO Acquisition. Subsequent to the ruling, American Life will receive a refund of ¥16 billion ($190 million) related to income tax, interest and penalties, of which $160 million has been collected at December 31, 2012. Under the indemnification provisions of the Stock Purchase Agreement, MetLife Inc. is required to remit the refund to AIG net of certain amounts it can retain as a counter claim. The receipt of the refund, net of obligations to AIG and corresponding U.S. tax effects, is expected to result in a $30 million charge to net income and a slight decrease in the Company’s overall effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2013.

Disposition and Pending Acquisition

See Note 3 for discussion of the MetLife Bank Divestiture.

On February 1, 2013, MetLife, Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (“BBVA”) and BBVA Inversiones Chile S.A. (“BBVA Inversiones,” and, together with BBVA, the “BBVA Sellers”) to acquire Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Provida S.A. (“Provida”), the largest private pension fund administrator in Chile by assets under management and number of contributors. Under the terms of the agreement, MetLife will conduct a public cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Provida, and the BBVA Sellers have agreed to transfer their 64.3% stake to MetLife. Assuming all publicly-held shares are tendered, the purchase price, which MetLife, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries will fund from their existing cash balances, would be approximately $2 billion. The transaction is anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2013, subject to receipt of certain regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.