Segment Information (Operating Results) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	$ (930)	$ 488			$ 1,138	$ (137)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(208)	96			188	(68)
Post-tax adjusted earnings	(722)	392	$ 1,672	$ (461)	950	(69)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0			1	1
Net investment gains (losses)	(40)	(16)			(171)	(37)
Net derivative gains (losses)	(408)	56			1,909	(2,049)
Other adjustments to net income (loss)	109	92			326	262
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	(722)	392			949	(70)
Annuities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	546	564			1,643	1,643
Interest expense	0	0			0	0
Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	65	168			304	474
Interest expense	0	0			0	0
Run-off
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	168	505			919	1,466
Interest expense	0	0			0	0
Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	101	33			208	62
Interest expense	18	17			51	50
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	32	600			429	1,700
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(6)	117			39	316
Post-tax adjusted earnings	38	483			390	1,384
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0			1	1
Adjusted earnings	38	483			389	1,383
Operating Segments | Annuities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	127	482			743	1,288
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	18	96			132	249
Post-tax adjusted earnings	109	386			611	1,039
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0			0	0
Adjusted earnings	109	386			611	1,039
Operating Segments | Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	(64)	139			(9)	364
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(13)	30			(2)	76
Post-tax adjusted earnings	(51)	109			(7)	288
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0			0	0
Adjusted earnings	(51)	109			(7)	288
Operating Segments | Run-off
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	(27)	43			(214)	267
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(5)	4			(45)	31
Post-tax adjusted earnings	(22)	39			(169)	236
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0			0	0
Adjusted earnings	(22)	39			(169)	236
Operating Segments | Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	(4)	(64)			(91)	(219)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(6)	(13)			(46)	(40)
Post-tax adjusted earnings	2	(51)			(45)	(179)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0			1	1
Adjusted earnings	2	(51)			(46)	(180)
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	202	21			(149)	384
Net investment gains (losses)	(40)	(16)			(171)	(37)
Net derivative gains (losses)	(408)	56			1,909	(2,049)
Other adjustments to net income (loss)	$ (514)	$ (152)			$ (1,029)	$ 249