Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Cumulative Effect, Adjustment	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Common Stock	Common Stock Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Cumulative Effect, Adjustment	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative Effect, Adjustment	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Brighthouse Life Insurance Company Stockholder's Equity	Brighthouse Life Insurance Company Stockholder's Equity Cumulative Effect, Adjustment	Brighthouse Life Insurance Company Stockholder's Equity Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Noncontrolling Interests	Noncontrolling Interests Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance
Stockholder's Equity	$ 16,868	$ (4)	$ 16,864														$ 15	$ 15
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017				$ 75	$ 75	$ 19,073	$ 19,073	$ (4,132)	$ 75	$ (4,057)	$ 1,837	$ (79)	$ 1,758	$ 16,853	$ (4)	$ 16,849
Net income (loss)	967							967						967			1
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(1,040)										(1,040)			(1,040)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)													0			(1)
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse	968
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018				75		19,073		(3,090)			718			16,776
Stockholder's Equity	16,791																15
Net income (loss)	(809)							(809)						(809)			1
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	2,497										2,497			2,497
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)													0			(1)
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse	(808)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	18,464			75	$ 75	19,073	$ 19,073	(3,899)	$ (14)	$ (3,913)	3,215	$ 3	$ 3,218	18,464	$ (11)	$ 18,453
Stockholder's Equity	18,479	$ (11)	$ 18,468														15	$ 15
Net income (loss)	(1,306)							(1,306)						(1,306)			1
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	2,203										2,203			2,203
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)													0			(1)
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse	(1,305)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	18,100			$ 75		18,323		(5,719)			$ 5,421			18,100
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(1,250)					$ (750)		$ (500)						$ (1,250)
Stockholder's Equity	$ 18,115																$ 15