Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Common Stock	Common Stock Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, 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, Period of Adoption, 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, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Noncontrolling Interests	Noncontrolling Interests Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 18,115	$ (9,106)	$ 9,009	$ 75	$ 75	$ 18,323	$ 18,323	$ (5,719)	$ (5,171)	$ (10,890)	$ 5,421	$ (3,935)	$ 1,486	$ 18,100	$ (9,106)	$ 8,994	$ 15	$ 15
Dividends paid to parent	(550)					(550)								(550)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)													0			(1)
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	1,762							1,762						1,762			1
Net income (loss)	1,763
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(1,685)										(1,685)			(1,685)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	8,536			75		17,773		(9,128)			(199)			8,521			15
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)													0			(1)
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	3,710							3,710						3,710			1
Net income (loss)	3,711
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(5,732)										(5,732)			(5,732)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	6,514			75		17,773		(5,418)			(5,931)			6,499			15
Dividends paid to parent	(266)					(266)								(266)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)													0			(1)
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	(1,124)							(1,124)						(1,124)			1
Net income (loss)	(1,123)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	817										817			817
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 5,941			$ 75		$ 17,507		$ (6,542)			$ (5,114)			$ 5,926			$ 15