Exhibit 5

                       OPINION OF RICHARD S. COLLINS, ESQ.

                                                             December 12, 2006

MetLife, Inc.
200 Park Avenue
Floor 1200
New York, New York 10166-0188

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      I am Chief Counsel-General Corporate of MetLife, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"). I am familiar with the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), relating to the MetLife Senior Partners Deferred
Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

      I or other in-house attorneys for the Company over whom I exercise general
supervisory authority have reviewed such documents and records as we have deemed
necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth herein. In making
such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal
capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to
us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted
to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the
originals of such copies.

      Based upon and subject to the limitations, assumptions, qualifications and
exceptions set forth herein, I am of the opinion that, when issued in accordance
with the terms of the Plan, the deferred compensation obligations will be valid
and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their
terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting enforcement of
creditors' rights or by general equity principles.

      I am a member of the bar of the State of New York and I do not express an
opinion herein concerning any laws other than the laws of the United States of
America and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

      I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ Richard S. Collins
                                            ___________________________________
                                            Name: Richard S. Collins
                                            Title: Chief Counsel-General
                                                     Corporate

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