Consolidated Statements of 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, Adjusted Balance	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Common Stock	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Additional Paid-in Capital	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s Stockholder’s Equity	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance Noncontrolling Interests
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 16,791						$ 15
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 75	$ 19,073	$ (3,090)	$ 718	$ 16,776
Change in noncontrolling interests	(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		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		75	19,073	(2,873)	3,532	19,807
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	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		75	19,073	(2,873)	3,532	19,807
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	19,822						15
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	18,479						15	$ (11)				$ 18,468						$ 15
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	18,464	75	19,073	(3,899)	3,215	18,464			$ (14)	$ 3	$ (11)		$ 75	$ 19,073	$ (3,913)	$ 3,218	$ 18,453
Dividends paid to parent	(800)		(300)	(500)		(800)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)					0	(1)
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company				2,841		2,841	1
Net income (loss)	2,842
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	1,392				1,392	1,392
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2020		75	18,773	(1,572)	4,610	21,886
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	18,464	75	19,073	(3,899)	3,215	18,464			$ (14)	$ 3	$ (11)		$ 75	$ 19,073	$ (3,913)	$ 3,218	$ 18,453
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	(325)
Net income (loss)	(324)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	19,218	75	18,773	(4,738)	5,108	19,218
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	21,901						15
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2020		75	18,773	(1,572)	4,610	21,886
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	(3,166)			(3,166)		(3,166)
Net income (loss)	(3,166)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	498				498	498
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	19,218	$ 75	$ 18,773	$ (4,738)	$ 5,108	$ 19,218
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 19,233						$ 15