Fair Value (Financial Instruments Carried at Other Than Fair Value) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Assets
Policy loans	$ 8,822	$ 8,788
Liabilities
Collateral financing arrangement	529	637
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,163	3,161
Separate account liabilities	148,809	144,634
Carrying Value
Assets
Mortgage loans	90,415	92,506
Policy loans	8,822	8,788
Other invested assets	1,247	919
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	4,752	5,182
Other assets	242	268
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	141,467	138,233
Long-term debt	15,271	15,516
Collateral financing arrangement	529	637
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,163	3,161
Other liabilities	10,594	10,556
Separate account liabilities	78,004	75,705
Estimated Fair Value
Assets
Mortgage loans	86,994	87,753
Policy loans	9,550	9,516
Other invested assets	1,247	919
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	4,754	5,191
Other assets	247	266
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	139,362	134,025
Long-term debt	15,499	15,621
Collateral financing arrangement	460	551
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,714	3,552
Other liabilities	10,422	10,260
Separate account liabilities	78,004	75,705
Estimated Fair Value \| Level 1
Assets
Mortgage loans	0	0
Policy loans	0	0
Other invested assets	0	0
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	0	0
Other assets	0	0
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Collateral financing arrangement	0	0
Junior subordinated debt securities	0	0
Other liabilities	0	0
Separate account liabilities	0	0
Estimated Fair Value \| Level 2
Assets
Mortgage loans	0	0
Policy loans	0	0
Other invested assets	715	714
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	725	791
Other assets	73	82
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	0	0
Long-term debt	15,499	15,621
Collateral financing arrangement	0	0
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,714	3,552
Other liabilities	1,486	609
Separate account liabilities	78,004	75,705
Estimated Fair Value \| Level 3
Assets
Mortgage loans	86,994	87,753
Policy loans	9,550	9,516
Other invested assets	532	205
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	4,029	4,400
Other assets	174	184
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	139,362	134,025
Long-term debt	0	0
Collateral financing arrangement	460	551
Junior subordinated debt securities	0	0
Other liabilities	8,936	9,651
Separate account liabilities	$ 0	$ 0

Total amount of mortgage loans not valued on a recurring basis as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	met_FairValueMortgageLoansNetNotOnRecurringBasis
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of other investments not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_OtherInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of the liability of policyholders for deposits held under the terms of insurance contracts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_PolicyholderContractDepositsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialAssetsBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialLiabilitiesBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of long-term debt (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer) identified as Junior Subordinated Notes, which have a lower priority than senior instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 210
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478546/942-210-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16)(a)(2))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478777/944-210-S99-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_JuniorSubordinatedNotes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allowance of loans made to policy and contract holders using their life insurance contracts' cash value or separate accounts as collateral. Includes deferred interest and fees, undisbursed portion of loan balance, unamortized costs and premiums over and discounts from face amounts. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(1)(e))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478777/944-210-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(1)(6))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478777/944-210-S99-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansInsurancePolicy
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)(i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of other assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2E
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2E

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of other liabilities.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of receivables, including, but not limited to, trade account receivables, note receivables, and loan receivables.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482907/825-10-50-10

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2E
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2E

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(7))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478546/942-210-S99-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReceivablesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuredDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liability for variable contract in which all or portion of contract holder's funds is allocated to specific separate account and supported by assets held in separate account.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 80
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 9
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480078/944-80-55-9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 80
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480141/944-80-45-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 80
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480109/944-80-50-2

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 80
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 18
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480078/944-80-55-18

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 80
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480109/944-80-50-2

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 80
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480141/944-80-45-2

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(18))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478777/944-210-S99-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SeparateAccountsLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: