Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Treasury Stock at Cost	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests	Cumulative Effect, Adjustment	Cumulative Effect, Adjustment Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Cumulative Effect, Adjustment Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Cumulative Effect, Adjustment Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s Stockholders’ Equity	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Preferred Stock	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Common Stock	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Additional Paid-in Capital	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Treasury Stock at Cost	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s Stockholders’ Equity	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Noncontrolling Interests
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 14,483								$ 65
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 0	$ 1	$ 12,473	$ 1,346	$ (118)	$ 716	$ 14,418
Preferred stock issuance	412	0		412				412
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(188)					(188)		(188)
Share-based compensation	8			8				8
Dividends on preferred stock	(7)				(7)			(7)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(2)							0	(2)
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common shareholders					(353)			(353)	2
Net income (loss)	(351)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	1,986						1,986	1,986
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019		0	1	12,893	986	(306)	2,702	16,276
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		0	1	12,473	1,346	(118)	716	14,418
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common shareholders	316
Net income (loss)	334
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019		0	1	12,897	1,662	(432)	3,567	17,695
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	16,341								65
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2019		0	1	12,893	986	(306)	2,702	16,276
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(126)					(126)		(126)
Share-based compensation	4			4				4
Dividends on preferred stock	(7)				(7)			(7)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(2)							0	(2)
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common shareholders	676				683			683	2
Net income (loss)	685
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	865						865	865
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019		0	1	12,897	1,662	(432)	3,567	17,695
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	17,760								65
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	16,237								65	$ (11)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	16,172	0	1	12,908	585	(562)	3,240	16,172			$ (14)	$ 3	$ (11)
Preferred stock issuance	390	0		390				390
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(322)					(322)		(322)
Share-based compensation	6		0	9		(3)		6
Dividends on preferred stock	(14)				(14)			(14)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(2)							0	(2)
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common shareholders					2,966			2,966	2
Net income (loss)	2,968
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	1,722						1,722	1,722
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2020		0	1	13,307	3,523	(887)	4,965	20,909							$ 0	$ 1	$ 12,908	$ 571	$ (562)	$ 3,243	$ 16,161
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	16,172	0	1	12,908	585	(562)	3,240	16,172			$ (14)	$ 3	$ (11)
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common shareholders	(60)
Net income (loss)	(25)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	18,266	0	1	13,314	511	(941)	5,381	18,266
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	20,974								65					$ 16,226								$ 65
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2020		0	1	13,307	3,523	(887)	4,965	20,909							$ 0	$ 1	$ 12,908	$ 571	$ (562)	$ 3,243	$ 16,161
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(54)					(54)		(54)
Share-based compensation	7			7				7
Dividends on preferred stock	(17)				(17)			(17)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(2)							0	(2)
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common shareholders	(3,012)				(2,995)			(2,995)	2
Net income (loss)	(2,993)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	416						416	416
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	18,266	$ 0	$ 1	$ 13,314	$ 511	$ (941)	$ 5,381	$ 18,266
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 18,331								$ 65