Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $342,533 and $340,870, respectively; includes $3,873 and $3,378, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	$ 374,294	$ 374,266
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $2,898 and $2,838, respectively)	3,188	2,891
Fair value option and trading securities, at estimated fair value (includes $792 and $659, respectively, of actively traded securities; and $101 and $112, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	16,588	16,348
Mortgage loans:
Held-for-investment, principally at amortized cost (net of valuation allowances of $332 and $347, respectively; includes $2,454 and $2,715, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	55,343	56,592
Held-for-sale, principally at estimated fair value (includes $2 and $49, respectively, under the fair value option)	271	414
Mortgage loans, net	55,614	57,006
Policy loans (includes $3 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,781	11,884
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $10 and $10, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	9,998	9,918
Other limited partnership interests (includes $156 and $274, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,087	6,688
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $14 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	13,653	16,906
Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value (includes $81 and $81, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	20,269	21,145
Total investments	512,472	517,052
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $208 and $99, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	9,983	15,738
Accrued investment income (includes $30 and $13, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	4,555	4,374
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $20 and $5, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	23,052	21,634
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired (includes $299 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	24,645	24,761
Goodwill	9,696	9,953
Other assets (includes $149 and $5, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	8,062	7,876
Separate account assets (includes $1,218 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	249,220	235,393
Total assets	841,685	836,781
Liabilities
Future policy benefits (includes $475 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	190,054	192,351
Policyholder account balances (includes $71 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	224,044	225,821
Other policy-related balances (includes $145 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	15,472	15,463
Policyholder dividends payable	713	728
Policyholder dividend obligation	3,599	3,828
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	34,215	33,687
Bank deposits	0	6,416
Short-term debt	100	100
Long-term debt (includes $2,268 and $2,527, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	18,721	19,062
Collateral financing arrangements	4,196	4,196
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,193	3,192
Current income tax payable	231	401
Deferred income tax liability	8,699	8,693
Other liabilities (includes $109 and $40, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	24,260	22,492
Separate account liabilities (includes $1,218 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	249,220	235,393
Total liabilities	776,717	771,823
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 13)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in partially-owned consolidated subsidiaries	96	121
MetLife, Inc.'s stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized: 84,000,000 shares issued and outstanding; $2,100 aggregate liquidation preference	1	1
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized; 1,097,412,771 and 1,094,880,623 shares issued at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively; 1,094,218,884 and 1,091,686,736 shares outstanding at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	11	11
Additional paid-in capital	28,072	28,011
Retained earnings	25,958	25,205
Treasury stock, at cost; 3,193,887 shares at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012	(172)	(172)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	10,580	11,397
Total MetLife, Inc.'s stockholders' equity	64,450	64,453
Noncontrolling interests	422	384
Total equity	64,872	64,837
Total liabilities and equity	$ 841,685	$ 836,781