Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax	Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Common Stock	Common Stock Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Treasury Stock at Cost	Treasury Stock at Cost Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s Stockholders’ Equity	Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s Stockholders’ Equity Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax	Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s Stockholders’ Equity Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance	Noncontrolling Interests	Noncontrolling Interests Cumulative Effect, Adjusted Balance
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 16,237	$ (11)	$ 16,226	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1	$ 1	$ 12,908	$ 12,908	$ 585	$ (14)	$ 571	$ (562)	$ (562)	$ 3,240	$ 3	$ 3,243	$ 16,172	$ (11)	$ 16,161	$ 65	$ 65
Preferred stock issuances	948			0				948										948
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(473)												(473)					(473)
Share-based compensation	19					0		22					(3)					19
Dividends on preferred stock	(44)									(44)								(44)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(5)																	0			(5)
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common shareholders	(1,105)									(1,061)								(1,061)			5
Net income (loss)	(1,056)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	2,473														2,473			2,473
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	18,088			0		1		13,878		(534)			(1,038)		5,716			18,023			65
Preferred stock issuances	339			0				339										339
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(499)												(499)					(499)
Share-based compensation	20					0		26					(6)					20
Dividends on preferred stock	(89)							(89)										(89)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(5)																	0			(5)
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common shareholders	(197)									(108)								(108)			5
Net income (loss)	(103)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(1,544)														(1,544)			(1,544)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	16,207			0		1		14,154		(642)			(1,543)		4,172			16,142			65
Treasury stock acquired in connection with share repurchases	(488)												(488)					(488)
Share-based compensation	14					0		25					(11)					14
Dividends on preferred stock	(104)							(104)										(104)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(5)																	0			(5)
Net income (loss) available to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common shareholders	(99)									5								5			5
Net income (loss)	10
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(9,596)														(9,596)			(9,596)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 6,038			$ 0		$ 1		$ 14,075		$ (637)			$ (2,042)		$ (5,424)			$ 5,973			$ 65