Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $335,626 and $340,870, respectively; includes $4,064 and $3,378, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	$ 356,514	$ 374,266
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $2,922 and $2,838, respectively)	3,231	2,891
Fair value option and trading securities, at estimated fair value (includes $744 and $659, respectively, of actively traded securities; and $92 and $112, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	16,110	16,348
Mortgage loans:
Held-for-investment, principally at amortized cost (net of valuation allowances of $302 and $347, respectively; includes $2,316 and $2,715, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	55,636	56,592
Held-for-sale, principally at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $49, respectively, under the fair value option)	0	414
Mortgage loans, net	55,636	57,006
Policy loans (includes $3 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,722	11,884
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $9 and $10, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	9,886	9,918
Other limited partnership interests (includes $159 and $274, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,197	6,688
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $13 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	12,990	16,906
Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value (includes $78 and $81, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	17,920	21,145
Total investments	491,206	517,052
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $54 and $99, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	9,184	15,738
Accrued investment income (includes $26 and $13, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	4,357	4,374
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $16 and $5, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	23,283	21,634
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired (includes $265 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	24,782	24,761
Goodwill	9,447	9,953
Other assets (includes $142 and $5, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	7,830	7,876
Separate account assets (includes $1,096 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	245,573	235,393
Total assets	815,662	836,781
Liabilities
Future policy benefits (includes $458 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	184,697	192,351
Policyholder account balances (includes $66 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	215,195	225,821
Other policy-related balances (includes $129 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	15,279	15,463
Policyholder dividends payable	750	728
Policyholder dividend obligation	2,273	3,828
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	33,247	33,687
Bank deposits	0	6,416
Short-term debt	100	100
Long-term debt (includes $2,126 and $2,527, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	18,577	19,062
Collateral financing arrangements	4,196	4,196
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,193	3,192
Current income tax payable	111	401
Deferred income tax liability	6,602	8,693
Other liabilities (includes $90 and $40, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	25,331	22,492
Separate account liabilities (includes $1,096 and $0, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	245,573	235,393
Total liabilities	755,124	771,823
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 14)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in partially-owned consolidated subsidiaries	130	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; 1,099,795,436 and 1,094,880,623 shares issued at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively; 1,096,601,549 and 1,091,686,736 shares outstanding at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	11	11
Additional paid-in capital	28,137	28,011
Retained earnings	25,824	25,205
Treasury stock, at cost; 3,193,887 shares at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012	(172)	(172)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	6,202	11,397
Total MetLife, Inc.'s stockholders' equity	60,003	64,453
Noncontrolling interests	405	384
Total equity	60,408	64,837
Total liabilities and equity	$ 815,662	$ 836,781