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	Cumulative Effect, Adjustment	Cumulative Effect, Adjustment Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Cumulative Effect, Adjustment Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Cumulative Effect, Adjustment Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s Stockholder’s Equity	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Common Stock	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Additional Paid-in Capital	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s Stockholder’s Equity	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Noncontrolling Interests
Total equity	$ 16,791						$ 15
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 75	$ 19,073	$ (3,090)	$ 718	$ 16,776
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	(754)			(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
Total equity	16,977						15
Total equity	18,479						15	$ (11)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	18,464	75	19,073	(3,899)	3,215	18,464			$ (14)	$ 3	$ (11)
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(300)		(300)			(300)
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	4,839			4,839		4,839
Net income (loss)	4,839
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(773)				(773)	(773)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	22,219	$ 75	$ 18,773	$ 926	$ 2,445	$ 22,219							$ 75	$ 19,073	$ (3,913)	$ 3,218	$ 18,453
Total equity	$ 22,234						$ 15					$ 18,468						$ 15