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 (Note 1)	$ (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) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company				(166)		(166)
Net income (loss)	(166)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(943)				(943)	(943)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018		75	19,073	(4,223)	815	15,740
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) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	(465)
Net income (loss)	(465)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018		75	19,073	(4,522)	560	15,186
Total equity	15,755						15
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2018		75	19,073	(4,223)	815	15,740
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	(299)			(299)		(299)
Net income (loss)	(299)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(255)				(255)	(255)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018		75	19,073	(4,522)	560	15,186
Total equity	15,201						15
Total equity	16,791						15
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	16,776	75	19,073	(3,090)	718	16,776
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	(1)					0	(1)
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company				(392)		(392)	1
Net income (loss)	(391)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	1,956				1,956	1,956
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019		75	19,073	(3,482)	2,674	18,340
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	16,776	75	19,073	(3,090)	718	16,776
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	217
Net income (loss)	218
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	19,807	75	19,073	(2,873)	3,532	19,807
Total equity	18,355						15
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2019		75	19,073	(3,482)	2,674	18,340
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	609			609		609
Net income (loss)	609
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	858				858	858
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	19,807	$ 75	$ 19,073	$ (2,873)	$ 3,532	$ 19,807
Total equity	$ 19,822						$ 15