Segment Information (Operating Results) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2025	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2025	Sep. 30, 2024
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 1,642	$ 1,831	$ 4,571	$ 2,953
Policyholder benefits and claims	(212)	(91)	1,070	1,516
Interest credited to policyholder account balances, excluding market value adjustments	553	550	1,638	1,549
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	142	137	416	413
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	83	25	(14)	(166)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	1	1
Net investment gains (losses)	44	(62)	(79)	(225)
Investment gains (losses) on trading securities	1,309	1,258	3,836	3,757
Net derivative gains (losses)	(408)	(93)	(1,330)	(2,690)
Change in market risk benefits	(293)	(610)	(86)	1,185
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	381	197	161	(390)
Annuities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	767	726	2,274	2,100
Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	106	100	284	306
Run-off
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	292	276	847	906
Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	137	161	426	473
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,642	1,831	4,571	2,953
Adjusted earnings (loss)	901	814	1,348	1,000
Operating Segments | Annuities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	816	984	2,407	968
Revenues excluded from adjusted earnings	(415)	(221)	(1,299)	(2,638)
Policyholder benefits and claims	124	89	335	348
Interest credited to policyholder account balances, excluding market value adjustments	356	340	1,066	968
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	129	124	378	373
Interest expense on debt	0	0	0	0
Other expenses	255	256	780	747
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	69	75	217	221
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Adjusted earnings (loss)	298	321	930	949
Operating Segments | Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	249	236	688	631
Revenues excluded from adjusted earnings	4	(10)	(19)	(23)
Policyholder benefits and claims	183	133	502	430
Interest credited to policyholder account balances, excluding market value adjustments	25	21	68	63
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	13	13	38	40
Interest expense on debt	0	0	0	0
Other expenses	48	32	137	130
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(6)	10	(9)	(2)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Adjusted earnings (loss)	(18)	37	(29)	(7)
Operating Segments | Run-off
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	378	479	955	941
Revenues excluded from adjusted earnings	(6)	101	(179)	(221)
Policyholder benefits and claims	(519)	(313)	233	738
Interest credited to policyholder account balances, excluding market value adjustments	61	60	179	181
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	0	0	0	0
Interest expense on debt	0	0	0	0
Other expenses	32	48	97	129
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	170	121	131	22
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Adjusted earnings (loss)	640	462	494	92
Operating Segments | Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	199	132	521	413
Revenues excluded from adjusted earnings	60	(30)	93	(61)
Policyholder benefits and claims	0	0	0	0
Interest credited to policyholder account balances, excluding market value adjustments	102	118	312	336
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	0	0	0	0
Interest expense on debt	17	17	50	50
Other expenses	50	50	149	159
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(11)	(17)	(37)	(38)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	1	1
Adjusted earnings (loss)	(19)	(6)	(47)	(34)
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest credited to policyholder account balances, excluding market value adjustments	(9)	(11)	(13)	(1)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	139	164	316	369
Net investment gains (losses)	44	(62)	(79)	(225)
Investment gains (losses) on trading securities	(7)	0	(7)	0
Net derivative gains (losses)	(408)	(98)	(1,332)	(2,718)
Investment hedge adjustments	0	(5)	(2)	(28)
Change in market risk benefits	$ (293)	$ (610)	$ (86)	$ 1,185