Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common shareholders	$ (1,998)	$ 377	$ 2,952	$ (360)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	94,698,169	114,931,224	99,728,754	115,863,127
Dilutive effect of share-based awards	0	605,430	140,178	0
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	94,698,169	115,536,654	99,868,932	115,863,127
Earnings per common share - basic	$ (21.10)	$ 3.28	$ 29.60	$ (3.10)
Earnings per common share - diluted	$ (21.10)	$ 3.27	$ 29.56	$ (3.10)
Antidilutive stock options excluded from the computation of earnings per common share		196,492	187,371