Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax	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 of change in accounting principle, net of income tax	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s Stockholder’s Equity	Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s Stockholder’s Equity Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax	Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s Stockholder’s Equity Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Noncontrolling Interests	Noncontrolling Interests Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 16,791			$ 75		$ 19,073		$ (3,090)			$ 718			$ 16,776			$ 15
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)													0			(1)
Net income (loss)	(809)							(809)						(809)			1
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse	(808)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	2,497										2,497			2,497
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	18,479		$ 18,468	75	$ 75	19,073	$ 19,073	(3,899)	$ (14)	$ (3,913)	3,215	$ 3	$ 3,218	18,464	$ (11)	$ 18,453	15	$ 15
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ (11)
Dividends paid to parent	(1,250)					(750)		(500)						(1,250)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)													0			(1)
Net income (loss)	(1,306)							(1,306)						(1,306)			1
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse	(1,305)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	2,203										2,203			2,203
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	18,100			75		18,323		(5,719)			5,421			18,100			15
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	18,115
Dividends paid to parent	(550)					(550)								(550)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)													0			(1)
Net income (loss)	66							66						66			1
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse	67
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(1,520)										(1,520)			(1,520)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	16,096			$ 75		$ 17,773		$ (5,653)			$ 3,901			$ 16,096			$ 15
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 16,111