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Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company) (Condensed Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2024 | Dec. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities |  |  |
Net income (loss) | $ 4,426 | $ 1,578 | $ 5,284
(Gains) losses on investments and from sales of businesses, net | 1,165 | 2,800 | 1,260
Other, net | 628 | 197 | 245
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 14,598 | 13,721 | 13,044
Cash flows from investing activities |  |  |
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | 55,650 | 58,816 | 88,937
Sales, maturities and repayments of short-term investments | 11,841 | 13,117 | 14,094
Purchases of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | (65,667) | (63,460) | (82,956)
Purchases of short-term investments | (10,943) | (14,000) | (11,741)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives | 2,288 | 3,145 | 4,524
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives | (3,981) | (5,662) | (7,793)
Other, net | (173) | (143) | (63)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (11,493) | (10,246) | (2,620)
Cash flows from financing activities |  |  |
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions | (244) | (3,283) | (10,730)
Long-term debt issued | 1,568 | 1,989 | 1,013
Long-term debt repaid | (1,792) | (1,035) | (85)
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases | (3,207) | (3,103) | (3,326)
Dividends on preferred stock | (200) | (198) | (185)
Dividends on common stock | (1,527) | (1,566) | (1,598)
Other, net | 223 | (139) | (236)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (3,131) | (2,940) | (9,948)
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, beginning of year | 20,639 |  |
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, end of year | 20,068 | 20,639 |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information |  |  |
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax | 1,600 | 1,833 | 1,056
Parent Company |  |  |
Cash flows from operating activities |  |  |
Net income (loss) | 4,426 | 1,578 | 5,284
Earnings of subsidiaries | (5,056) | (2,199) | (5,619)
Dividends from subsidiaries | 5,467 | 4,780 | 5,168
(Gains) losses on investments and from sales of businesses, net | (250) | (134) | (332)
Other, net | 148 | 158 | (73)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 4,735 | 4,183 | 4,428
Cash flows from investing activities |  |  |
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | 1,256 | 3,093 | 1,609
Sales, maturities and repayments of short-term investments | 255 | 1,330 | 0
Purchases of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | (1,389) | (973) | (2,757)
Purchases of short-term investments | (842) | (1,375) | 0
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives | 520 | 161 | 296
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives | (418) | (155) | (103)
Expense paid on behalf of subsidiaries | (5) | (4) | (10)
Receipts on loans to subsidiaries | 320 | 250 | 150
Issuances of loans to subsidiaries | (300) | (460) | (210)
Returns of capital from subsidiaries | 74 | 6 | 8
Capital contributions to subsidiaries | (249) | (528) | (5)
Other, net | (13) | (3) | 15
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (791) | 1,342 | (1,007)
Cash flows from financing activities |  |  |
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions | 25 | 111 | 1
Long-term debt issued | 1,518 | 1,986 | 1,000
Long-term debt repaid | (1,438) | (1,000) | 0
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases | (3,207) | (3,103) | (3,326)
Dividends on preferred stock | (200) | (198) | (185)
Dividends on common stock | (1,527) | (1,566) | (1,598)
Other, net | 23 | (24) | 16
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (4,806) | (3,794) | (4,092)
Change in cash and cash equivalents | (862) | 1,731 | (671)
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, beginning of year | 3,021 | 1,290 | 1,961
Cash and cash equivalents, from continuing operations, end of year | 2,159 | 3,021 | 1,290
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information |  |  |
Net cash paid for Interest | 915 | 852 | 800
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax | (46) | (165) | (129)
Non-cash transactions: |  |  |
Returns of capital from subsidiaries | 1 | 2 | 12
Capital contributions to subsidiaries | 1 | 1 | 11
Amounts paid to (received from) subsidiaries, net | Parent Company |  |  |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information |  |  |
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax | (76) | (671) | (214)
Income tax paid (received) by MetLife, Inc., net | Parent Company |  |  |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information |  |  |
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax | $ 30 | $ 506 | $ 85

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