Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Brighthouse Life Insurance Company [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Total equity	$ 19,094						$ 0
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 75	$ 16,698	$ (301)	$ 2,622	$ 19,094
Capital contributions from MetLife, Inc.	202		202			202
Dividends paid to MetLife, Inc.	(500)			(500)		(500)
Amount of other increase (decrease) in additional paid in capital (APIC) due to a return of capital	(50)		(50)			(50)
Net income (loss)	918			918		918
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(1,028)				(1,028)	(1,028)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015		75	16,850	117	1,594	18,636
Total equity	18,636						0
Capital contributions from MetLife, Inc.	1,637		1,637			1,637
Dividends paid to MetLife, Inc.	(261)			(261)		(261)
Amount of other increase (decrease) in additional paid in capital (APIC) due to a return of capital	(26)		(26)			(26)
Net income (loss)	(2,775)			(2,775)		(2,775)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(346)				(346)	(346)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	16,865	75	18,461	(2,919)	1,248	16,865
Total equity	16,865						0
Capital contributions from MetLife, Inc.	202		202			202
Amount of other increase (decrease) in additional paid in capital (APIC) due to a return of capital	(2,737)		(2,737)			(2,737)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Capital Contributions from Parent	3,147		3,147			3,147
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	15					0	15
Net income (loss)	(883)			(883)		(883)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	259				259	259
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	16,853	$ 75	$ 19,073	(4,132)	1,837	16,853
Total equity	16,868						$ 15
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets	$ 0			$ (330)	$ 330	$ 0