Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company) (Condensed Statements of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net investment income	$ 4,138	$ 4,881	$ 3,601
Other revenues	476	446	413
Net investment gains (losses)	(248)	(59)	278
Net derivative gains (losses)	304	(2,469)	(18)
Total revenues	8,473	7,142	8,503
Expenses
Debt repayment costs	0	(75)	(43)
Other expenses	2,085	2,451	2,353
Total expenses	8,645	7,350	9,922
Income (loss) before provision for income tax	(172)	(208)	(1,419)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(182)	(105)	(363)
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.	5	(108)	(1,061)
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common shareholders	(99)	(197)	(1,105)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(9,591)	(1,652)	1,415
Parent Company
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net investment income	14	1	7
Other revenues	(3)	13	19
Net investment gains (losses)	(2)	2	0
Net derivative gains (losses)	(7)	2	8
Total revenues	2	18	34
Expenses
Debt repayment costs	0	(77)	(43)
Other expenses	168	179	211
Total expenses	168	256	254
Income (loss) before provision for income tax	(166)	(238)	(220)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(35)	(50)	(45)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(131)	(188)	(175)
Income (Loss) from Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	136	80	(886)
Net income (loss) attributable to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.	5	(108)	(1,061)
Dividends, Preferred Stock	104	89	44
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common shareholders	(99)	(197)	(1,105)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (9,591)	$ (1,652)	$ 1,415