v3.20.1

Subsequent Event (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 14, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net investment income			$ 251,406	$ 251,980	$ 255,010
MetLife, Inc. [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired			49,131,501	88,029,138	56,599,540
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method			$ 2,300,000	$ 4,000,000	$ 2,900,000
Subsequent Event [Member] \| MetLife, Inc. [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired	973,315
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	$ 51,000
MetLife, Inc. Common Stock Dividend, Amount Per Share		$ 0.44
Net investment income		$ 62,000

Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

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Amount, after investment expense, of income earned from investments in securities and real estate. Includes, but is not limited to, real estate investment, policy loans, dividends, and interest. Excludes realized gain (loss) on investments.

+ References

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Equity impact of the cost of common and preferred stock that were repurchased during the period. Recorded using the cost method.

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METLIFE POLICYHOLDER TRUST 10-K