Segment Information (Operating Results) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2025	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2025	Jun. 30, 2024
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 697	$ 1,246	$ 2,929	$ 1,122
Policyholder benefits and claims	663	623	1,282	1,607
Interest credited to policyholder account balances, excluding market value adjustments	531	503	1,085	999
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	138	138	274	276
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(1)	(23)	(97)	(191)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1	1	1	1
Net investment gains (losses)	(42)	(120)	(123)	(163)
Investment gains (losses) on trading securities	1,258	1,276	2,527	2,499
Net derivative gains (losses)	(1,240)	(664)	(922)	(2,597)
Change in market risk benefits	1,103	357	207	1,795
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	67	(22)	(220)	(587)
Annuities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	756	700	1,507	1,374
Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	84	110	178	206
Run-off
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	283	314	555	630
Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	143	162	289	312
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	697	1,246	2,929	1,122
Adjusted earnings (loss)	209	319	447	186
Operating Segments | Annuities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	102	556	1,591	(16)
Revenues excluded from adjusted earnings	(1,131)	(649)	(884)	(2,417)
Policyholder benefits and claims	100	112	211	259
Interest credited to policyholder account balances, excluding market value adjustments	353	326	710	628
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	125	125	249	249
Interest expense on debt	0	0	0	0
Other expenses	254	243	525	491
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	76	75	148	146
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Adjusted earnings (loss)	325	324	632	628
Operating Segments | Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	214	241	439	395
Revenues excluded from adjusted earnings	(13)	(4)	(23)	(13)
Policyholder benefits and claims	163	133	319	297
Interest credited to policyholder account balances, excluding market value adjustments	22	21	43	42
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	13	13	25	27
Interest expense on debt	0	0	0	0
Other expenses	49	39	89	98
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(4)	9	(3)	(12)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Adjusted earnings (loss)	(16)	30	(11)	(44)
Operating Segments | Run-off
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	209	316	577	462
Revenues excluded from adjusted earnings	(174)	(112)	(173)	(322)
Policyholder benefits and claims	400	378	752	1,051
Interest credited to policyholder account balances, excluding market value adjustments	58	52	118	121
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	0	0	0	0
Interest expense on debt	0	0	0	0
Other expenses	29	35	65	81
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(21)	(8)	(39)	(99)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Adjusted earnings (loss)	(83)	(29)	(146)	(370)
Operating Segments | Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	172	133	322	281
Revenues excluded from adjusted earnings	28	(29)	33	(31)
Policyholder benefits and claims	0	0	0	0
Interest credited to policyholder account balances, excluding market value adjustments	104	109	210	218
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	0	0	0	0
Interest expense on debt	16	16	33	33
Other expenses	53	50	99	109
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(13)	(8)	(26)	(21)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1	1	1	1
Adjusted earnings (loss)	(17)	(6)	(28)	(28)
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest credited to policyholder account balances, excluding market value adjustments	6	5	(4)	10
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	39	91	177	205
Net investment gains (losses)	(42)	(120)	(123)	(163)
Investment gains (losses) on trading securities	6	0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)	(1,242)	(674)	(924)	(2,620)
Investment hedge adjustments	(2)	(10)	(2)	(23)
Change in market risk benefits	$ 1,103	$ 357	$ 207	$ 1,795