Exhibit 99.1

Contacts:   For Media:        John Calagna
                              212-578-6252
                              jcalagna@metlife.com

            For Investors:    Kevin Helmintoller
                              212-578-5140
                              helmintoller@metlife.com

                        METLIFE TO SELL 11 MADISON AVENUE

NEW YORK, December 8, 2003 - MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) said today that
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company has entered into a contract to sell its
interest in 11 Madison Avenue in New York City. The sale is expected to result
in an after-tax gain of approximately $160 million and to have no material
impact on operating earnings. It is anticipated that the sale would close in the
fourth quarter of 2003, subject to customary closing conditions.

MetLife, Inc., through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading provider of
insurance and other financial services to individual and institutional
customers. The MetLife companies serve approximately 12 million individuals in
the U.S. and provide benefits to 37 million employees and family members through
their plan sponsors. Outside the U.S., the MetLife companies have insurance
operations in 12 countries serving approximately 8 million customers.

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This release contains statements which constitute forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including statements relating to trends in the company's operations and
financial results and the business and the products of the company and its
subsidiaries, as well as other statements including words such as "anticipate,"
"believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend" and other similar
expressions. Forward-looking statements are made based upon management's
current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their
potential effects on the company. Such forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance.

Actual results may differ materially from those included in the forward-looking
statements as a result of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to
the following: (i) changes in general economic conditions, including the
performance of financial markets and interest rates; (ii) heightened
competition, including with respect to pricing, entry of new competitors and
the development of new products by new and existing competitors; (iii)
unanticipated changes in industry trends; (iv) the company's primary reliance,
as a holding company, on dividends from its subsidiaries to meet debt payment
obligations and the applicable regulatory restrictions on the ability of the
subsidiaries to pay such dividends; (v) deterioration in the experience of the
"closed block" established in connection with the reorganization of
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; (vi) catastrophe losses; (vii) adverse
results from litigation, arbitration or regulatory investigations; (viii)
regulatory, accounting or tax changes that may affect the cost of, or demand
for, the company's products or services; (ix) downgrades in the company's and
its affiliates' claims paying ability, financial strength or debt ratings; (x)
changes in rating agency policies or practices; (xi) discrepancies between
actual claims experience and assumptions used in setting prices for the
company's products and establishing the liabilities for the company's
obligations for future policy benefits and claims; (xii) discrepancies between
actual experience and assumptions used in establishing liabilities related to
other contingencies or obligations; (xiii) the effects of business disruption
or economic contraction due to terrorism or other hostilities; and (xiv) other
risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the company's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its S-1 and S-3
registration statements. The company specifically disclaims any obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future developments or otherwise.