Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s Stockholder’s Equity	Noncontrolling Interests	Restatement Adjustment	Restatement Adjustment Common Stock	Restatement Adjustment Additional Paid-in Capital	Restatement Adjustment Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Restatement Adjustment Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Restatement Adjustment Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s Stockholder’s Equity	Restatement Adjustment Noncontrolling Interests
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle and other, net of income tax	$ (4)			$ 75	$ (79)	$ (4)
Total equity	16,868						$ 15	$ 16,864						$ 15
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 75	$ 19,073	(4,132)	1,837	16,853			$ 75	$ 19,073	$ (4,057)	$ 1,758	$ 16,849
Net income (loss)				(2)		(2)
Net income (loss)	(2)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(823)				(823)	(823)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2018		75	19,073	(4,059)	935	16,024
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		75	19,073	(4,132)	1,837	16,853			$ 75	$ 19,073	$ (4,057)	$ 1,758	$ 16,849
Net income (loss)	(166)
Net income (loss)	(166)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018		75	19,073	(4,223)	815	15,740
Total equity	16,039						15
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2018		75	19,073	(4,059)	935	16,024
Net income (loss)	(164)			(164)		(164)
Net income (loss)	(164)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(120)				(120)	(120)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018		75	19,073	(4,223)	815	15,740
Total equity	15,755						15
Total equity	16,791						15
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	16,776	75	19,073	(3,090)	718	16,776
Net income (loss)				(754)		(754)
Net income (loss)	(754)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	940				940	940
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2019		75	19,073	(3,844)	1,658	16,962
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	16,776	75	19,073	(3,090)	718	16,776
Net income (loss)	(392)
Net income (loss)	(391)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	18,340	75	19,073	(3,482)	2,674	18,340
Total equity	16,977						15
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2019		75	19,073	(3,844)	1,658	16,962
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	(1)					0	(1)
Net income (loss)	362			362		362	1
Net income (loss)	363
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	1,016				1,016	1,016
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	18,340	$ 75	$ 19,073	$ (3,482)	$ 2,674	$ 18,340
Total equity	$ 18,355						$ 15