<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0000728618</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001099219</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>METLIFE INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-15787</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>200 Park Avenue</com:street1>
        <com:city>New York</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>10016</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>212-578-2211</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>MetLife Separate Account SPI</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Affiliate</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Bernstein Institutional Services LLC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>245 Park Ave</com:street1>
          <com:city>New York</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>10167</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>562</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>44836.36</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>658891656</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>01/09/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>N Y S E</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/29/2015</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>GOLDMAN SACHS</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>562</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>06/03/2015</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>MetLife 401k Plan Russell 1000 Value</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 Metlife Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Whippany</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07981</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>10/29/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>196</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>15350.72</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Separate Account 149</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 Metlife Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Whippany</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07981</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>11/20/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>30</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>2217.6</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Separate Account SPI</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 Metlife Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Whippany</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07981</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/01/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>335</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>25563.85</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Separate Account II</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 Metlife Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Whippany</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07981</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/17/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>231</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>19064.43</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Separate Account 149</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 Metlife Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Whippany</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07981</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/19/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>10</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>815.7</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Separate Account II</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 Metlife Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Whippany</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07981</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/19/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>38</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>3099.66</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Separate Account SPI</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 Metlife Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Whippany</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07981</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/19/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>137</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>11175.09</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>MetLife 401k Plan Russell 1000 Value</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 Metlife Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Whippany</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07981</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/19/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>68</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>5546.76</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>MetLife 401k Plan Trust-Large Cap Equity Index</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 Metlife Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Whippany</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07981</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/19/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>359</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>29283.63</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>01/09/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>Mirsad Usejnoski</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
