Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Brighthouse Life Insurance Company 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 Stockholder's Equity	Restatement Adjustment Noncontrolling Interests
Stockholder's Equity	$ 16,865						$ 0
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 75	$ 18,461	$ (2,919)	$ 1,248	$ 16,865
Sale of operating joint venture interest to former affiliate	202		202			202
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
Net income (loss)	(883)			(883)		(883)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	259				259	259
Change in noncontrolling interests	15					0	15
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse	(883)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		75	19,073	(4,132)	1,837	16,853			$ 75	$ 19,073	$ (4,057)	$ 1,758	$ 16,849
Stockholder's Equity	16,868						15	$ 16,864						$ 15
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets	(4)			75	(79)	(4)
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	0			(330)	330	0
Net income (loss)	967			967		967
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(1,040)				(1,040)	(1,040)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)					0	(1)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1						1
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse	968
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	16,776	75	19,073	(3,090)	718	16,776
Stockholder's Equity	16,791						15
Net income (loss)	(809)			(809)		(809)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	2,497				2,497	2,497
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)					0	(1)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1						1
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse	(808)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	18,464	$ 75	$ 19,073	$ (3,899)	$ 3,215	$ 18,464
Stockholder's Equity	$ 18,479						$ 15