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Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company) (Condensed Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020
Cash flows from operating activities |  |  |
Net income (loss) | $ 2,539 | $ 6,554 | $ 5,407
(Gains) losses on investments and from sales of businesses, net | 1,262 | (1,529) | 110
Other, net | 245 | 138 | 351
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 13,204 | 12,596 | 11,639
Cash flows from investing activities |  |  |
Sales and maturities of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | 88,937 | 88,839 | 77,979
Purchases of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | (82,956) | (97,368) | (89,633)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives | 4,524 | 3,453 | 4,847
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives | (7,793) | (7,990) | (4,247)
Other, net | (28) | (46) | 139
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (2,620) | (11,187) | (18,569)
Cash flows from financing activities |  |  |
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions | (10,730) | 1,883 | 3,538
Long-term debt issued | 1,013 | 29 | 1,124
Long-term debt repaid | (85) | (582) | (99)
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases | (3,326) | (4,303) | (1,151)
Preferred stock issued, net of issuance costs | 0 | 0 | 1,961
Redemption of preferred stock | 0 | (494) | (989)
Preferred stock redemption premium | 0 | (6) | (14)
Dividends on preferred stock | (185) | (195) | (202)
Dividends on common stock | (1,598) | (1,647) | (1,657)
Other, net | (236) | 22 | 191
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (10,108) | (1,375) | 10,729
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, beginning of year | 20,047 |  |
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, end of year | 20,195 | 20,047 |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information |  |  |
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax | 1,056 | 1,102 | 787
Parent Company |  |  |
Cash flows from operating activities |  |  |
Net income (loss) | 2,539 | 6,554 | 5,407
Earnings of subsidiaries | (2,874) | (5,995) | (6,263)
Dividends from subsidiaries | 5,168 | 4,830 | 3,970
(Gains) losses on investments and from sales of businesses, net | (332) | (1,655) | 154
Other, net | (73) | 23 | 211
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 4,428 | 3,757 | 3,479
Cash flows from investing activities |  |  |
Sales and maturities of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | 1,609 | 5,078 | 3,693
Purchases of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | (2,757) | (4,371) | (3,858)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives | 296 | 111 | 71
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives | (103) | (27) | (100)
Sales of businesses | 0 | 3,902 | 0
Purchases of businesses | 0 | 0 | (1,875)
Expense paid on behalf of subsidiaries | (10) | (15) | (15)
Receipts on loans to subsidiaries | 150 | 195 | 100
Issuances of loans to subsidiaries | (210) | (230) | 0
Returns of capital from subsidiaries | 8 | 13 | 16
Capital contributions to subsidiaries | (5) | (88) | (422)
Net change in short-term investments | 0 | 156 | 4
Other, net | 15 | 9 | (2)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (1,007) | 4,733 | (2,388)
Cash flows from financing activities |  |  |
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions | 1 | 88 | 49
Long-term debt issued | 1,000 | 496 | 1,246
Long-term debt repaid | 0 | (996) | (251)
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases | (3,326) | (4,303) | (1,151)
Preferred stock issued, net of issuance costs | 0 | 0 | 1,961
Redemption of preferred stock | 0 | (494) | (989)
Preferred stock redemption premium | 0 | (6) | (14)
Dividends on preferred stock | (185) | (195) | (202)
Dividends on common stock | (1,598) | (1,647) | (1,657)
Other, net | 16 | 87 | (19)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (4,092) | (6,970) | (1,027)
Change in cash and cash equivalents | (671) | 1,520 | 64
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, beginning of year | 1,961 | 441 | 377
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, end of year | 1,290 | 1,961 | 441
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information |  |  |
Net cash paid for Interest | 800 | 853 | 815
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax | (129) | 18 | (296)
Non-cash transactions: |  |  |
Dividends from subsidiary | 0 | 14 | 341
Returns of capital from subsidiaries | 12 | 7 | 13
Capital contributions to subsidiaries | 11 | 15 | 1
Amounts paid to (received from) subsidiaries, net | Parent Company |  |  |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information |  |  |
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax | (214) | (110) | (392)
Income tax paid (received) by MetLife, Inc., net | Parent Company |  |  |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information |  |  |
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax | $ 85 | $ 128 | $ 96

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