Who Owns MetLife?
MetLife is the flagship brand of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), the largest U.S. life insurer founded in 1868 and headquartered in New York City's MetLife Building. The brand is best known for employer group benefits covering most of the Fortune 100, plus retirement solutions and insurance in 40+ markets. Its U.S. retail life business became Brighthouse Financial in 2017.
Who Owns MetLife?
- Parent Company: MetLife, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Subsidiary
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: MET
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| MetLife | MetLife, Inc. | Subsidiary |
History of MetLife
- Founded: 1868
- Founders: National Union Life and Limb Insurance Company (predecessor)
The brand began in 1868 as National Union Life and Limb, insuring Civil War soldiers, before reorganizing as Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Its "industrial insurance" model, agents collecting pennies weekly, made it America's biggest life insurer by the early 20th century.
Corporate milestones include the MetLife Tower (1909, briefly the world's tallest building), the Pan Am Building acquisition (1981), the Snoopy and Peanuts partnership (1985-2016), and the 2000 demutualization IPO that raised ~$6.5 billion.
The modern brand took shape through acquisitions: Travelers Life & Annuity (2005) and especially Alico, bought from AIG for $16.2 billion in 2010, which made MetLife the dominant foreign life insurer in Japan. A 2016 court victory ended its systemically important designation, and the 2017 Brighthouse spin-off refocused the U.S. brand on workplace benefits and institutional retirement.
As of 2026, the brand momentum is strong: Q2 2026 group benefits adjusted earnings rose 25%, MetLife Stadium remains one of the NFL's marquee venues, and the brand continues to anchor the largest U.S. life insurer by assets.
About MetLife, Inc.
Is MetLife a subsidiary of a bigger company?
No. MetLife, Inc. is the publicly traded parent (NYSE: MET). Brighthouse Financial was spun off in 2017 and is separate.
Is MetLife publicly traded?
Yes, on the NYSE under MET, and it is an S&P 500 component.
When was MetLife founded?
In 1868 in New York as National Union Life and Limb Insurance Company, renamed Metropolitan Life shortly after.
Who owns MetLife in 2026?
Public shareholders, predominantly institutional investors. Michel Khalaf is Chairman, President, and CEO.
Does MetLife still sell individual life insurance?
Not in the U.S.: that business became Brighthouse Financial in 2017. MetLife's U.S. focus is employer group benefits, retirement/income solutions, and investment management; it sells individual products in Asia, Latin America, and EMEA.
Does MetLife sell pet insurance?
Yes, through MetLife Pet Insurance, built on the 2019 acquisition of PetFirst Healthcare.
- Founded: 1868
- Headquarters: New York, New York, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: MET
- Revenue: Approximately $75 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: Approximately 45,000
Where Is MetLife Made / Based?
- Headquarters: New York, New York, USA
MetLife Categories & Tags
MetLife Recalls & Controversies
The 2018 annuity-payment failure, in which MetLife had not paid roughly 13,500 retirees for years, produced state fines, an SEC penalty, and a still-cited compliance case study. The 2012 unclaimed-property settlement over death benefits was an industry-wide reckoning it helped trigger.
MetLife's SIFI designation fight (2014-2016) was a landmark: it sued the government and won, reshaping post-crisis oversight of insurers. Current scrutiny centers on pension risk transfer adequacy, claims denials in group disability, and fossil-fuel investment exposure.
Brands Owned by MetLife, Inc.
Finance FintechMetLife Investment Management
Owned by MetLife, Inc.
MetLife Investment Management (MIM) is MetLife's institutional asset management brand, investing the insurer's general account and third-party institutional mandates across fixed income, real estate, and alternatives.
asset-managementinstitutionalfixed-income
InsuranceMetLife Pet Insurance
Owned by MetLife, Inc.
MetLife Pet Insurance is MetLife's pet health coverage brand, built on the 2019 PetFirst acquisition, offering accident and illness policies for dogs and cats across the United States.
pet-insuranceinsurancedogs
MetLife Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +#1 U.S. group benefits brand with deep employer entrenchment
- +158-year heritage and exceptional brand recognition
- +Global diversification across Asia, Latin America, EMEA
- +PRT market leadership in retirement solutions
- +Strong capital generation and return profile
Considerations
- -U.S. retail exit caps direct consumer product reach
- -Earnings sensitivity to underwriting and investment margins
- -Regulatory and claims-handling scrutiny persists
- -Asian currency and market exposure
- -Snoopy retirement diluted some consumer warmth
Frequently Asked Questions About MetLife
Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to MetLife
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apollo Global Management | USA | 2009 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Kkr | USA | 2004 | Niche leader | United states | All-ages | |
| Massmutual | USA | 1955 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Northwestern Mutual | USA | 1857 | Mass market | United states | All-ages | |
| Prudential Financial | USA | 1875 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| The Hartford | USA | 1810 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
InsuranceAthene
Owned by Apollo Global Management, Inc.
American retirement services and annuity provider founded in 2009, merged with Apollo Global Management in 2022 and operating as its Retirement Services segment.
insuranceannuitiesretirement
InsuranceGlobal Atlantic
Owned by KKR & Co. Inc.
Insurance and retirement products brand of KKR, offering life insurance, annuities, and reinsurance solutions as the permanent capital engine inside KKR's business.
life-insuranceannuitiesreinsurance
InsuranceMassMutual Ascend
Owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual)
Cincinnati-based annuity company subsidiary of MassMutual, acquired as Great American Life Insurance in 2021, selling fixed, indexed, and registered index-linked annuities.
annuitiesretirementfixed-annuities
InsuranceNorthwestern Mutual
Owned by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
American life insurance and financial planning brand owned by policyowners through The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, the largest direct provider of individual life insurance in the United States.
life-insurancefinancial-planningmutual-insurance
InsurancePrudential
Owned by Prudential Financial, Inc.
Prudential is the flagship life insurance, annuity, and retirement brand of Prudential Financial, Inc., a Newark-based company managing about $1.6 trillion in assets.
life-insuranceannuitiesretirement
InsuranceThe Hartford
Owned by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
American insurance brand founded in 1810, offering business insurance, AARP personal lines, employee benefits, and mutual funds under the iconic stag logo.
insuranceproperty-casualtyaarp
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: MetLife competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Independent Alternatives to MetLife
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by MetLife, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
InsuranceAllied Insurance
Owned by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Des Moines-founded insurance brand of Nationwide Mutual, serving independent agents and brokers for personal and small commercial lines since 1929.
insuranceindependent-agentsproperty-casualty
Privately Owned
Allied Insurance is privately owned, unlike MetLife which is under a publicly traded parent company.
InsuranceNationwide
Owned by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Consumer-facing insurance and financial services brand of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, the Columbus, Ohio mutual founded in 1926.
insurancemutual-insuranceauto-insurance
Privately Owned
Nationwide is privately owned, unlike MetLife which is under a publicly traded parent company.
InsuranceNationwide Pet Insurance
Owned by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
America's first and largest pet insurance brand, founded as Veterinary Pet Insurance in 1982 and owned by Nationwide Mutual since 2009.
pet-insuranceinsurancepets
Privately Owned
Nationwide Pet Insurance is privately owned, unlike MetLife which is under a publicly traded parent company.
InsuranceMassMutual
Owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual)
Life insurance, annuity, and wealth management brand of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, a mutual insurer founded in 1851 and headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts.
life-insuranceannuitieswealth-management
Privately Owned
MassMutual is privately owned, unlike MetLife which is under a publicly traded parent company.
InsuranceState Farm Life Insurance
Owned by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
State Farm's life insurance line, operating through two life companies with $1.2 trillion of individual life insurance in force and a record $924 million policyholder dividend in 2025.
life-insurancemutual-insuranceterm-life
Privately Owned
State Farm Life Insurance is privately owned, unlike MetLife which is under a publicly traded parent company.
InsuranceMassMutual Ascend
Owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual)
Cincinnati-based annuity company subsidiary of MassMutual, acquired as Great American Life Insurance in 2021, selling fixed, indexed, and registered index-linked annuities.
annuitiesretirementfixed-annuities
Privately Owned
MassMutual Ascend is privately owned, unlike MetLife which is under a publicly traded parent company.
MetLife, Inc. Stock Information
Jobs at MetLife, Inc.
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