Partnerre (PREJF) 10-Q 31 Oct 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Oct. 27, 2014
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document type	'10-Q	'
Document period end date	30-Sep-14	'
Amendment flag	'false	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Entity registrant name	'PARTNERRE LTD.	'
Entity central index key	'0000911421	'
Entity current reporting status	'Yes	'
Entity voluntary filers	'No	'
Current fiscal year end date	'--12-31	'
Entity filer category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity well known seasoned issuer	'Yes	'
Entity common stock shares outstanding	'	48,972,567

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'	'
Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2014, $13,575,112; 2013, $13,376,455)	$13,950,629	$13,593,303
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost: 2014, $37,010; 2013, $13,543)	37,016	13,546
Equities, at fair value (cost: 2014, $804,920; 2013, $1,009,286)	1,001,307	1,221,053
Other invested assets	299,260	320,981
Total investments	15,288,212	15,148,883
Funds held – directly managed (cost: 2014, $642,278; 2013, $778,569)	650,374	785,768
Cash and cash equivalents	1,519,287	1,496,485
Accrued investment income	171,050	185,717
Reinsurance balances receivable	2,974,668	2,465,713
Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses	317,071	308,892
Funds held by reinsured companies	808,686	843,081
Deferred acquisition costs	707,481	644,952
Deposit assets	104,218	351,905
Net tax assets	5,029	14,133
Goodwill	456,380	456,380
Intangible assets	166,083	187,090
Other assets	38,804	149,296
Total assets	23,207,343	23,038,295
Liabilities	'	'
Unpaid losses and loss expenses	10,264,001	10,646,318
Policy benefits for life and annuity contracts	2,113,463	1,974,133
Unearned premiums	2,048,550	1,723,767
Other reinsurance balances payable	237,175	202,549
Deposit liabilities	71,857	328,588
Net tax liabilities	234,651	284,442
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	350,401	291,350
Debt related to senior notes	750,000	750,000
Debt related to capital efficient notes	70,989	70,989
Total liabilities	16,141,087	16,272,136
Shareholders’ Equity	'	'
Common shares (par value $1.00; issued: 2014, 87,141,960 shares; 2013, 86,657,045 shares)	87,142	86,657
Preferred shares (par value $1.00; issued and outstanding: 2014 and 2013, 34,150,000 shares; aggregate liquidation value: 2014 and 2013, $853,750)	34,150	34,150
Additional paid-in capital	3,936,396	3,901,627
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-8,718	-12,238
Retained earnings	6,040,875	5,406,797
Common shares held in treasury, at cost (2014, 37,794,611 shares; 2013, 34,213,611 shares)	-3,075,865	-2,707,461
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	7,013,980	6,709,532
Noncontrolling interests	52,276	56,627
Total shareholders’ equity	7,066,256	6,766,159
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$23,207,343	$23,038,295

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'	'
Fixed maturities, amortized cost	$13,575,112	$13,376,455
Short-term investments, amortized cost	37,010	13,543
Equities, cost	804,920	1,009,286
Funds held - directly managed, cost	642,278	778,569
Shareholders’ Equity	'	'
Common shares, par value	$1	$1
Common shares, shares issued	87,141,960	86,657,045
Preferred shares, par value	$1	$1
Number of preferred shares issued	34,150,000	34,150,000
Preferred shares, shares outstanding	34,150,000	34,150,000
Aggregate liquidation value	$853,750	$853,750
Common shares held in treasury, shares	37,794,611	34,213,611

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Revenues	'		'		'		'
Gross premiums written	$1,361,280		$1,281,477		$4,695,327		$4,378,944
Net premiums written	1,342,690		1,264,775		4,499,849		4,210,525
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	213,924		156,694		-336,384		-433,740
Net premiums earned	1,556,614		1,421,469		4,163,465		3,776,785
Net investment income	118,176		121,811		365,010		370,017
Net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains	-34,420		16,118		273,468		-260,154
Other income	2,223		5,399		11,892		13,205
Total revenues	1,642,593		1,564,797		4,813,835		3,899,853
Expenses	'		'		'		'
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	959,543		750,999		2,592,847		2,278,793
Acquisition costs	321,756		282,948		888,937		758,890
Other operating expenses	108,615		108,467		327,149		369,340
Interest expense	12,241		12,233		36,719		36,694
Amortization of intangible assets	7,003		7,045		21,007		21,136
Net foreign exchange (gains) losses	-8,206		1,279		-10,900		9,822
Total expenses	1,400,952		1,162,971		3,855,759		3,474,675
Income before taxes and interest in earnings of equity method investments	241,641		401,826		958,076		425,178
Income tax expense	45,617		70,232		186,363		37,338
Interest in earnings of equity method investments	5,294		5,941		16,283		9,677
Net income	201,318		337,535		787,996		397,517
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-4,920		-4,112		-9,914		-5,296
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	196,398		333,423		778,082		392,221
Preferred dividends	14,184		14,184		42,551		43,678
Loss on redemption of preferred shares	0		0		0		9,135
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders	182,214		319,239		735,531		339,408
Comprehensive income	'		'		'		'
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	196,398		333,423		778,082		392,221
Change in currency translation adjustment	1,412		14,432		3,209		-16,912
Change in unfunded pension obligation, net of tax	989		114		979		980
Change in unrealized losses on investments, net of tax	-221		-229		-668		-692
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	2,180		14,317		3,520		-16,624
Comprehensive income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	$198,578		$347,740		$781,602		$375,597
Per share data attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.common shareholders	'		'		'		'
Basic net income	$3.68		$5.95		$14.58		$6.04
Diluted net income	$3.60	[1]	$5.84	[1]	$14.26	[1]	$5.93	[1]
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	49,514,980		53,671,245		50,461,749		56,176,260
Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding	50,681,325		54,625,151		51,566,134		57,217,561
Dividends declared per common share	$0.67		$0.64		$2.01		$1.92
[1]	Where the exercise price of share based awards is greater than the average market price of the common shares, the common shares are considered anti-dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding - diluted.

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $)

Total

Parent [Member]

Common Shares [Member]

Preferred shares

Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]

Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Member]

Currency translation adjustment [Member]

Unfunded pension obligation [Member]

Unrealized gain (loss) on investment [Member]

Retained Earnings [Member]

Common shares held in treasury [Member]

Noncontrolling Interest [Member]

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Total shareholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2012

'

'

$85,460

$35,750

$3,861,844

$10,597

$32,755

($27,370)

$5,212

$4,952,002

($2,012,157)

'

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of common shares

'

'

966

'

56,568

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of preferred shares

'

'

'

10,000

231,265

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Redemption of preferred shares

'

'

'

-11,600

-269,265

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Change in currency translation adjustment

-16,912

'

'

'

'

'

-16,912

'

'

'

'

'

Change in unfunded pension obligation, net of tax

980

'

'

'

'

'

'

980

'

'

'

'

Change in unrealized losses on investments, net of tax

-692

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-692

'

'

'

Net income

397,517

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

397,517

'

'

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

-5,296

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-5,296

'

'

Dividends on common shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-108,191

'

'

Dividends on preferred shares

-43,678

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-43,678

'

'

Loss on redemption of preferred shares

-9,135

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-9,135

'

'

Repurchase of common shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-594,336

'

Total shareholders' equity at Sep. 30, 2013

6,624,176

6,571,687

86,426

34,150

3,880,412

-6,027

15,843

-26,390

4,520

5,183,219

-2,606,493

52,489

Total shareholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2013

6,766,159

'

86,657

34,150

3,901,627

-12,238

977

-17,509

4,294

5,406,797

-2,707,461

'

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of common shares

'

'

485

'

34,769

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of preferred shares

'

'

'

0

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Redemption of preferred shares

'

'

'

0

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Change in currency translation adjustment

3,209

'

'

'

'

'

3,209

'

'

'

'

'

Change in unfunded pension obligation, net of tax

979

'

'

'

'

'

'

979

'

'

'

'

Change in unrealized losses on investments, net of tax

-668

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-668

'

'

'

Net income

787,996

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

787,996

'

'

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

-9,914

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-9,914

'

'

Dividends on common shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-101,453

'

'

Dividends on preferred shares

-42,551

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-42,551

'

'

Loss on redemption of preferred shares

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

Repurchase of common shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-368,404

'

Total shareholders' equity at Sep. 30, 2014

$7,066,256

$7,013,980

$87,142

$34,150

$3,936,396

($8,718)

$4,186

($16,530)

$3,626

$6,040,875

($3,075,865)

$52,276

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Parentheticals) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Unfunded pension obligation [Member]	'	'
Shareholders Equity Parentheticals	'	'
Balance at end of period, unfunded pension obligation, tax impact	$4,780,000	$7,752,000
Unrealized gain on investments [Member]	'	'
Shareholders Equity Parentheticals	'	'
Balance at end of period, unrealized gain on investments, tax impact	$0	$0

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net income	$787,996	$397,517
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Amortization of net premium on investments	82,519	119,468
Amortization of intangible assets	21,007	21,136
Net realized and unrealized investment (gains) losses	-273,468	260,154
Changes in:	'	'
Reinsurance balances, net	-565,187	-592,380
Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses, net of ceded premiums payable	32,421	65,593
Funds held by reinsured companies and funds held – directly managed	138,659	76,159
Deferred acquisition costs	-83,758	-111,562
Net tax assets and liabilities	-27,792	-83,379
Unpaid losses and loss expenses including life policy benefits	144,663	-65,725
Unearned premiums	336,384	433,740
Other net changes in operating assets and liabilities	-10,207	63,014
Net cash provided by operating activities	583,237	583,735
Payments/ proceeds from trading securities [Line Items]	'	'
Redemptions of fixed maturities	527,367	1,002,991
Sales and redemptions of short-term investments	70,750	290,011
Purchases of short-term investments	-95,168	-176,339
Other, net	-4,822	98,813
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	-2,579	584,512
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders	-144,004	-151,869
Repurchase of common shares	-374,557	-619,534
Issuance of common shares, net of taxes paid	12,639	37,193
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred shares	0	241,265
Repurchase of preferred shares	0	-290,000
(Distribution) sale of shares to noncontrolling interests	-14,265	47,136
Net cash used in financing activities	-520,187	-735,809
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	-37,669	-3,081
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	22,802	429,357
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period	1,496,485	1,121,705
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period	1,519,287	1,551,062
Supplemental cash flow information:	'	'
Taxes paid	243,396	148,522
Interest paid	24,630	24,630
Fixed maturities [Member]	'	'
Payments/ proceeds from trading securities [Line Items]	'	'
Sales of fixed maturities and sales of equities	6,227,896	5,831,364
Purchases of fixed maturities and purchases of equities	-6,990,492	-6,501,873
Equities [Member]	'	'
Payments/ proceeds from trading securities [Line Items]	'	'
Sales of fixed maturities and sales of equities	464,212	595,848
Purchases of fixed maturities and purchases of equities	($202,322)	($556,303)

Organization

Organization	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Disclosure - Organization [Abstract]	'
Organization	'
	1. Organization
	PartnerRe Ltd. (PartnerRe or the Company) predominantly provides reinsurance and certain specialty insurance lines on a worldwide basis through its principal wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Partner Reinsurance Company Ltd. (PartnerRe Bermuda), Partner Reinsurance Europe SE and Partner Reinsurance Company of the U.S. Risks reinsured include, but are not limited to, property, casualty, motor, agriculture, aviation/space, catastrophe, credit/surety, engineering, energy, marine, specialty property, specialty casualty, multiline and other lines, mortality, longevity, accident and health and alternative risk products. The Company’s alternative risk products include weather and credit protection to financial, industrial and service companies on a worldwide basis.
	Effective December 31, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of Presidio Reinsurance Group, Inc. (subsequently renamed and referred to as PartnerRe Health), a California-based U.S. specialty accident and health reinsurance and insurance writer. The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Cash Flows include PartnerRe Health’s results from January 1, 2013.

Significant_Accounting_Policie

Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	'
	2. Significant Accounting Policies
	The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires Management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. While Management believes that the amounts included in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect its best estimates and assumptions, actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company’s principal estimates include:
	•	Unpaid losses and loss expenses;
	•	Policy benefits for life and annuity contracts;
	•	Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned;
	•	Recoverability of deferred acquisition costs;
	•	Recoverability of deferred tax assets;
	•	Valuation of goodwill and intangible assets; and
	•	Valuation of certain assets and derivative financial instruments that are measured using significant unobservable inputs.
	In the opinion of Management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of results for the interim periods have been made. As the Company’s reinsurance operations are exposed to low-frequency, high-severity risk events, some of which are seasonal, results for certain interim periods may include unusually low loss experience, while results for other interim periods may include significant catastrophic losses. Consequently, the Company’s results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Recent_Accounting_Pronouncemen

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]	'
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued updated guidance on the accounting for investments in affordable housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits by entities that manage or invest in such projects. The update modifies the conditions that an entity must meet to elect the effective yield or proportional amortization method to account for such investments. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a significant impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosures.
	In June 2014, the FASB issued updated guidance on the accounting for share-based payments when the terms of an award provide that a performance target could be achieved after the requisite service period. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a significant impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosures.

Fair_Value

Fair Value	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	'
	4. Fair Value
	(a) Fair Value of Financial Instrument Assets
	The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value by maximizing the use of observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. The level in the hierarchy within which a given fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement.
	The Company determines the appropriate level in the hierarchy for each financial instrument that it measures at fair value. In determining fair value, the Company uses various valuation approaches, including market, income and cost approaches. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the observability of inputs as follows:
	•	Level 1 inputs—Unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access.
	The Company’s financial instruments that it measures at fair value using Level 1 inputs generally include: equities and real estate investment trusts listed on a major exchange, exchange traded funds and exchange traded derivatives, including futures that are actively traded.
	•	Level 2 inputs—Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets and significant directly or indirectly observable inputs, other than quoted prices, used in industry accepted models.
	The Company’s financial instruments that it measures at fair value using Level 2 inputs generally include: U.S. government issued bonds; U.S. government sponsored enterprises bonds; U.S. state, territory and municipal entities bonds; non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related bonds consisting primarily of bonds issued by non-U.S. national governments and their agencies, non-U.S. regional governments and supranational organizations; investment grade and high yield corporate bonds; catastrophe bonds; mortality bonds; asset-backed securities; mortgage-backed securities; certain equities traded on foreign exchanges; certain fixed income mutual funds; foreign exchange forward contracts; over-the-counter derivatives such as foreign currency option contracts, credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and to-be-announced mortgage-backed securities (TBAs).
	•	Level 3 inputs—Unobservable inputs.
	The Company’s financial instruments that it measures at fair value using Level 3 inputs generally include: inactively traded fixed maturities including U.S. state, territory and municipal bonds; privately issued corporate securities; special purpose financing asset-backed bonds; unlisted equities; real estate and certain other mutual fund investments; inactively traded weather derivatives; notes and loan receivables, notes securitizations, annuities and residuals, private equities and longevity and other total return swaps.
	The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers between the hierarchy levels at the beginning of the period.
	The Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value include investments and the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value were classified between Levels 1, 2 and 3 as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
	30-Sep-14		Quoted prices in				Significant				Significant				Total
			active markets for				other observable				unobservable
			identical assets				inputs				inputs
			(Level 1)				(Level 2)				(Level 3)
	Fixed maturities
	U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises		$	—			$	2,184,417			$	—			$	2,184,417
	U.S. states, territories and municipalities		—				189,755				130,743				320,498
	Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related		—				2,209,335				—				2,209,335
	Corporate		—				5,706,486				—				5,706,486
	Asset-backed securities		—				689,609				458,175				1,147,784
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		—				2,331,870				—				2,331,870
	Other mortgage-backed securities		—				50,239				—				50,239
	Fixed maturities		$	—			$	13,361,711			$	588,918			$	13,950,629
	Short-term investments		$	—			$	37,016			$	—			$	37,016
	Equities
	Real estate investment trusts		$	213,461			$	—			$	—			$	213,461
	Energy		155,113				—				—				155,113
	Insurance		127,740				—				—				127,740
	Finance		70,010				8,431				19,136				97,577
	Consumer noncyclical		91,334				—				—				91,334
	Communications		72,619				—				1,966				74,585
	Technology		47,848				—				7,318				55,166
	Industrials		43,930				—				—				43,930
	Consumer cyclical		36,252				—				—				36,252
	Utilities		32,012				—				—				32,012
	Other		17,372				—				7				17,379
	Mutual funds and exchange traded funds		48,383				—				8,375				56,758
	Equities		$	956,074			$	8,431			$	36,802			$	1,001,307
	Other invested assets
	Derivative assets
	Foreign exchange forward contracts		$	—			$	8,456			$	—			$	8,456
	Foreign currency option contracts		—				901				—				901
	Futures contracts		3,723				—				—				3,723
	Total return swaps		—				—				744				744
	Other
	Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization		—				—				45,396				45,396
	Annuities and residuals		—				—				14,880				14,880
	Private equities		—				—				53,019				53,019
	Derivative liabilities
	Foreign exchange forward contracts		—				(7,904		)		—				(7,904		)
	Foreign currency option contracts		—				(1,682		)		—				(1,682		)
	Futures contracts		(37		)		—				—				(37		)
	Insurance-linked securities		—				—				(375		)		(375		)
	Total return swaps		—				—				(1,859		)		(1,859		)
	Interest rate swaps		—				(10,200		)		—				(10,200		)
	TBAs		—				(508		)		—				(508		)
	Other invested assets		$	3,686			$	(10,937	)		$	111,805			$	104,554
	Funds held – directly managed
	U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises		$	—			$	149,273			$	—			$	149,273
	U.S. states, territories and municipalities		—				—				311				311
	Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related		—				123,210				—				123,210
Corporate		—				191,621				—				191,621
Other invested assets		—				—				14,553				14,553
Funds held – directly managed		$	—			$	464,104			$	14,864			$	478,968
Total		$	959,760			$	13,860,325			$	752,389			$	15,572,474
31-Dec-13		Quoted prices in				Significant other				Significant				Total
		active markets for				observable				unobservable
		identical assets				inputs				inputs
		(Level 1)				(Level 2)				(Level 3)
Fixed maturities
U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises		$	—			$	1,623,859			$	—			$	1,623,859
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		—				16,207				108,380				124,587
Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related		—				2,353,699				—				2,353,699
Corporate		—				6,048,663				—				6,048,663
Asset-backed securities		—				691,654				446,577				1,138,231
Residential mortgage-backed securities		—				2,268,517				—				2,268,517
Other mortgage-backed securities		—				35,747				—				35,747
Fixed maturities		$	—			$	13,038,346			$	554,957			$	13,593,303
Short-term investments		$	—			$	13,546			$	—			$	13,546
Equities
Real estate investment trusts		$	175,796			$	—			$	—			$	175,796
Energy		159,509				—				—				159,509
Insurance		144,020				—				—				144,020
Finance		108,944				9,556				20,207				138,707
Consumer noncyclical		108,663				—				—				108,663
Communications		70,792				—				2,199				72,991
Technology		53,768				—				7,752				61,520
Industrials		47,677				—				—				47,677
Consumer cyclical		45,915				—				—				45,915
Utilities		37,151				—				—				37,151
Other		19,993				—				—				19,993
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds		61,902				139,322				7,887				209,111
Equities		$	1,034,130			$	148,878			$	38,045			$	1,221,053
Other invested assets
Derivative assets
Foreign exchange forward contracts		$	—			$	1,249			$	—			$	1,249
Futures contracts		41,031				—				—				41,031
Total return swaps		—				—				79				79
Interest rate swaps		—				2,147				—				2,147
TBAs		—				2				—				2
Other
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization		—				—				41,446				41,446
Annuities and residuals		—				—				24,064				24,064
Private equities		—				—				39,131				39,131
Derivative liabilities
Foreign exchange forward contracts		—				(8,648		)		—				(8,648		)
Foreign currency option contracts		—				(535		)		—				(535		)
Credit default swaps (protection purchased)		—				(71		)		—				(71		)
Insurance-linked securities		—				—				(268		)		(268		)
Total return swaps		—				—				(599		)		(599		)
Interest rate swaps		—				(2,558		)		—				(2,558		)
TBAs		—				(1,331		)		—				(1,331		)
Other invested assets		$	41,031			$	(9,745	)		$	103,853			$	135,139
Funds held – directly managed
U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises		$	—			$	157,296			$	—			$	157,296
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		—				—				286				286
Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related		—				137,186				—				137,186
Corporate		—				248,947				—				248,947
Short-term investments		—				2,426				—				2,426
Other invested assets		—				—				15,165				15,165
Funds held – directly managed		$	—			$	545,855			$	15,451			$	561,306
Total		$	1,075,161			$	13,736,880			$	712,306			$	15,524,347
At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the aggregate carrying amounts of items included in Other invested assets that the Company did not measure at fair value were $194.7 million and $185.8 million, respectively, which related to the Company’s investments that are accounted for using the cost method of accounting or equity method of accounting.
In addition to the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account held at fair value of $479.0 million and $561.3 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, the funds held – directly managed account also included cash and cash equivalents, carried at fair value, of $53.1 million and $84.8 million, respectively, and accrued investment income of $6.3 million and $6.7 million, respectively. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the aggregate carrying amounts of items included in the funds held – directly managed account that the Company did not measure at fair value were $112.0 million and $133.0 million, respectively, which primarily related to other assets and liabilities held by Colisée Re related to the underlying business, which are carried at cost (see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013).
At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, substantially all of the accrued investment income in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets relate to the Company’s investments and the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account for which the fair value option was elected.
During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.
Disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments that the Company does not measure at fair value exclude insurance contracts and certain other financial instruments. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the fair values of financial instrument assets recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets not described above, approximate their carrying values.
The reconciliations of the beginning and ending balances for all financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
For the three months ended September 30, 2014		Balance at				Realized and				Purchases				Settlements			Net		Balance			Change in
		beginning				unrealized				and				and			transfers		at end			unrealized
		of period				investment				issuances				sales			into/		of period			investment
						gains (losses)											(out of)					gains (losses)
						included in											Level 3					relating to
						net income																assets held at
																						end of period
Fixed maturities
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	123,617			$	3,636			$	5,695			$	(2,205	)	$	—	$	130,743		$	3,747
Asset-backed securities		489,106				(4,439		)		11,085				(37,577		)	—		458,175			(4,403		)
Fixed maturities		$	612,723			$	(803	)		$	16,780			$	(39,782	)	$	—	$	588,918		$	(656	)
Equities
Finance		$	19,564			$	(428	)		$	—			$	—		$	—	$	19,136		$	(428	)
Communications		2,067				(101		)		—				—			—		1,966			(101		)
Technology		7,645				(327		)		—				—			—		7,318			(327		)
Other		7				—				—				—			—		7			—
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds		8,246				129				—				—			—		8,375			129
Equities		$	37,529			$	(727	)		$	—			$	—		$	—	$	36,802		$	(727	)
Other invested assets
Derivatives, net		$	(852	)		$	(1,255	)		$	57			$	560		$	—	$	(1,490	)	$	(1,255	)
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization		38,603				(1,379		)		29,286				(21,114		)	—		45,396			(1,379		)
Annuities and residuals		17,134				(475		)		—				(1,779		)	—		14,880			(474		)
Private equities		54,928				(1,348		)		248				(809		)	—		53,019			(1,348		)
Other invested assets		$	109,813			$	(4,457	)		$	29,591			$	(23,142	)	$	—	$	111,805		$	(4,456	)
Funds held – directly managed
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	305			$	6			$	—			$	—		$	—	$	311		$	6
Other invested assets		15,800				(1,467		)		220				—			—		14,553			(1,467		)
Funds held – directly managed		$	16,105			$	(1,461	)		$	220			$	—		$	—	$	14,864		$	(1,461	)
Total		$	776,170			$	(7,448	)		$	46,591			$	(62,924	)	$	—	$	752,389		$	(7,300	)
For the three months ended September 30, 2013		Balance at				Realized and				Purchases				Settlements			Net		Balance			Change in
		beginning				unrealized				and				and			transfers		at end of			unrealized
		of period				investment				issuances				sales (1)			into/(out of)		period			investment
						gains (losses)											Level 3					gains (losses)
						included in																relating to
						net income																assets held at
																						end of period
Fixed maturities
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	219,163			$	8,431			$	61,706			$	(165	)	$	—	$	289,135		$	8,431
Corporate		99,896				(269		)		—				—			—		99,627			(269		)
Asset-backed securities		426,288				4,800				86,442				(63,777		)	—		453,753			(3,043		)
Fixed maturities		$	745,347			$	12,962			$	148,148			$	(63,942	)	$	—	$	842,515		$	5,119
Equities
Finance		$	13,000			$	1,285			$	—			$	—		$	—	$	14,285		$	1,285
Communications		2,040				103				—				—			—		2,143			103
Technology		8,012				1,138				—				—			—		9,150			1,138
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds		7,549				125				—				—			—		7,674			125
Equities		$	30,601			$	2,651			$	—			$	—		$	—	$	33,252		$	2,651
Other invested assets
Derivatives, net		$	2,333			$	(1,885	)		$	—			$	(1,395	)	$	—	$	(947	)	$	(140	)
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization		44,224				3,250				1,248				(941		)	—		47,781			3,250
Annuities and residuals		30,555				413				—				(4,029		)	—		26,939			166
Private equities		21,100				(299		)		1,077				—			—		21,878			(299		)
Other invested assets		$	98,212			$	1,479			$	2,325			$	(6,365	)	$	—	$	95,651		$	2,977
Funds held – directly managed
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	337			$	(39	)		$	—			$	—		$	—	$	298		$	(39	)
Other invested assets		15,207				1,045				—				(686		)	—		15,566			1,045
Funds held – directly managed		$	15,544			$	1,006			$	—			$	(686	)	$	—	$	15,864		$	1,006
Total		$	889,704			$	18,098			$	150,473			$	(70,993	)	$	—	$	987,282		$	11,753
-1	Settlements and sales of asset-backed securities and derivatives include sales of $13.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
The reconciliations of the beginning and ending balances for all financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014		Balance at				Realized and				Purchases				Settlements			Net		Balance			Change in
		beginning				unrealized				and				and			transfers		at end of			unrealized
		of period				investment				issuances (1)				sales			into/(out of)		period			investment gains (losses)
						gains (losses)											Level 3					relating to
						included in																assets held at
						net income																end of period
Fixed maturities
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	108,380			$	10,488			$	14,220			$	(2,345	)	$	—	$	130,743		$	10,483
Asset-backed securities		446,577				4,698				138,538				(131,638		)	—		458,175			4,993
Fixed maturities		$	554,957			$	15,186			$	152,758			$	(133,983	)	$	—	$	588,918		$	15,476
Equities
Finance		$	20,207			$	(1,071	)		$	—			$	—		$	—	$	19,136		$	(1,071	)
Communications		2,199				(233		)		—				—			—		1,966			(233		)
Technology		7,752				(434		)		—				—			—		7,318			(434		)
Other		—				(1		)		8				—			—		7			(1		)
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds		7,887				488				—				—			—		8,375			488
Equities		$	38,045			$	(1,251	)		$	8			$	—		$	—	$	36,802		$	(1,251	)
Other invested assets
Derivatives, net		$	(788	)		$	(391	)		$	(871	)		$	560		$	—	$	(1,490	)	$	(391	)
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization		41,446				2,188				32,202				(30,440		)	—		45,396			3,707
Annuities and residuals		24,064				(84		)		—				(9,100		)	—		14,880			(44		)
Private equities		39,131				(3,179		)		20,792				(3,725		)	—		53,019			(3,210		)
Other invested assets		$	103,853			$	(1,466	)		$	52,123			$	(42,705	)	$	—	$	111,805		$	62
Funds held – directly managed
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	286			$	25			$	—			$	—		$	—	$	311		$	25
Other invested assets		15,165				(1,087		)		475				—			—		14,553			(1,087		)
Funds held – directly managed		$	15,451			$	(1,062	)		$	475			$	—		$	—	$	14,864		$	(1,062	)
Total		$	712,306			$	11,407			$	205,364			$	(176,688	)	$	—	$	752,389		$	13,225
-1	Purchases and issuances of derivatives include issuances of $0.9 million.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013		Balance at				Realized and				Purchases				Settlements			Net		Balance			Change in
		beginning				unrealized				and				and			transfers		at end of			unrealized
		of period				investment				issuances (1)				sales (2)			into/(out of)		period			investment
						(losses) gains											Level 3					(losses) gains relating to
						included in																assets held at
						net income																end of period
Fixed maturities
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	233,235			$	(5,427	)		$	61,706			$	(379	)	$	—	$	289,135		$	(5,427	)
Corporate		100,904				(1,277		)		—				—			—		99,627			(1,277		)
Asset-backed securities		323,134				478				241,607				(111,466		)	—		453,753			(7,182		)
Fixed maturities		$	657,273			$	(6,226	)		$	303,313			$	(111,845	)	$	—	$	842,515		$	(13,886	)
Equities
Finance		$	13,477			$	808			$	—			$	—		$	—	$	14,285		$	808
Communications		—				103				2,040				—			—		2,143			103
Technology		6,987				2,163				—				—			—		9,150			2,163
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds		7,264				410				—				—			—		7,674			410
Equities		$	27,728			$	3,484			$	2,040			$	—		$	—	$	33,252		$	3,484
Other invested assets
Derivatives, net		$	3,911			$	(6,084	)		$	121			$	1,105		$	—	$	(947	)	$	(349	)
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization		34,902				1,867				14,598				(3,586		)	—		47,781			1,867
Annuities and residuals		46,882				506				—				(20,449		)	—		26,939			481
Private equities		1,404				(3,811		)		24,285				—			—		21,878			(3,811		)
Other invested assets		$	87,099			$	(7,522	)		$	39,004			$	(22,930	)	$	—	$	95,651		$	(1,812	)
Funds held – directly managed
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	345			$	(47	)		$	—			$	—		$	—	$	298		$	(47	)
Other invested assets		17,976				(1,653		)		—				(757		)	—		15,566			(589		)
Funds held – directly managed		$	18,321			$	(1,700	)		$	—			$	(757	)	$	—	$	15,864		$	(636	)
Total		$	790,421			$	(11,964	)		$	344,357			$	(135,532	)	$	—	$	987,282		$	(12,850	)
-1	Purchases and issuances of derivatives include issuances of $0.8 million.
-2	Settlements and sales of asset-backed securities, derivatives and annuities and residuals include sales of $13.7 million, $1.4 million and $6.3 million, respectively.
The significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows (fair value in thousands of U.S. dollars):
30-Sep-14		Fair value				Valuation techniques		Unobservable inputs		Range
										(Weighted average)
Fixed maturities
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	130,743			Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		2.4% – 10.0% (4.7%)
Asset-backed securities – other		458,175				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		4.0% – 12.0% (6.9%)
Equities
Finance		13,582				Weighted market comparables		Net income multiple		19.0 (19.0)
								Tangible book value multiple		1.3 (1.3)
								Liquidity discount		25.0% (25.0%)
								Comparable return		-1.4% (-1.4%)
Finance		5,554				Profitability analysis		Projected return on equity		14.0% (14.0%)
Communications		1,966				Weighted market comparables		Adjusted earnings multiple		9.4 (9.4)
								Comparable return		-10.6% (-10.6%)
Technology		7,318				Weighted market comparables		Revenue multiple		1.4 (1.4)
								Adjusted earnings multiple		8.3 (8.3)
Other invested assets
Total return swaps		(1,115		)		Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		3.5% – 18.5% (14.3%)
Notes and loan receivables		9,589				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		6.7% (6.7%)
Notes and loan receivables		14,879				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		17.5% (17.5%)
								Gross revenue/fair value		1.3 – 1.6 (1.6)
Notes securitization		20,928				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		3.5% – 6.6% (6.3%)
Annuities and residuals		14,880				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		5.3% – 8.1% (7.0%)
								Prepayment speed		0% – 15.0% (4.8%)
								Constant default rate		0.3% – 23.0% (7.6%)
Private equity – direct		9,582				Discounted cash flow and weighted market comparables		Net income multiple		8.3 (8.3)
								Tangible book value multiple		1.6 (1.6)
								Recoverability of intangible assets		0% (0%)
Private equity funds		14,422				Lag reported market value		Net asset value, as reported		100.0% (100.0%)
								Market adjustments		-4.6% – 1.9% (-2.3%)
Private equity – other		29,015				Discounted cash flow		Effective yield		5.8% (5.8%)
Funds held – directly managed
Other invested assets		14,553				Lag reported market value		Net asset value, as reported		100.0% (100.0%)
								Market adjustments		-12.9% – 0% (-12.1%)
December 31, 2013		Fair value				Valuation techniques		Unobservable inputs		Range
										(Weighted average)
Fixed maturities
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	108,380			Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		2.9% – 9.9% (5.3%)
Asset-backed securities – interest only		21				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		5.5% – 10.7% (8.8%)
Asset-backed securities – other		446,556				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		4.0% – 12.2% (7.1%)
Equities
Finance		15,483				Weighted market comparables		Net income multiple		14.6 (14.6)
								Tangible book value multiple		1.1 (1.1)
								Liquidity discount		25.0% (25.0%)
								Comparable return		8.5% (8.5%)
Finance		4,724				Profitability analysis		Projected return on equity		14.0% (14.0%)
Communications		2,199				Weighted market comparables		Adjusted earnings multiple		9.4 (9.4)
								Comparable return		0% (0%)
Technology		7,752				Weighted market comparables		Revenue multiple		0.9 (0.9)
								Adjusted earnings multiple		4.4 (4.4)
Other invested assets
Total return swaps		(520		)		Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		2.8% – 18.9% (17.0%)
Notes and loan receivables		21,280				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		17.5% (17.5%)
								Gross revenue/fair value		1.5 (1.5)
Notes securitization		20,166				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		6.2% (6.2%)
Annuities and residuals		24,064				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		4.0% – 7.9% (5.8%)
								Prepayment speed		0% – 15.0% (6.4%)
								Constant default rate		0.3% – 35.0% (12.4%)
Private equity – direct		11,742				Discounted cash flow and weighted market comparables		Net income multiple		8.3 (8.3)
								Tangible book value multiple		1.6 (1.6)
								Recoverability of intangible assets		0% (0%)
Private equity funds		8,993				Lag reported market value		Net asset value, as reported		100.0% (100.0%)
								Market adjustments		1.8% – 9.8% (8.3%)
Private equity – other		18,396				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		3.8% (3.8%)
Funds held – directly managed
Other invested assets		15,165				Lag reported market value		Net asset value, as reported		100.0% (100.0%)
								Market adjustments		-22.9% – 0% (-15.5%)
The tables above do not include financial instruments that are measured using unobservable inputs (Level 3) where the unobservable inputs were obtained from external sources and used without adjustment. These financial instruments include mutual fund investments (included within equities).
The Company has established a Valuation Committee which is responsible for determining the Company’s invested asset valuation policy and related procedures, for reviewing significant changes in the fair value measurements of securities classified as Level 3 from period to period, and for reviewing in accordance with the invested asset valuation policy an independent internal peer analysis that is performed on the fair value measurements of significant securities that are classified as Level 3. The Valuation Committee is comprised of members of the Company’s senior management team and meets on a quarterly basis. The Company’s invested asset valuation policy is monitored by the Company’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (Board) and approved annually by the Company’s Risk and Finance Committee of the Board.
Changes in the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments subject to the fair value option during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
	For the three months ended								For the nine months ended
	30-Sep-14				30-Sep-13				30-Sep-14				30-Sep-13
Fixed maturities and short-term investments	$	(75,537	)		$	10,259			$	167,696			$	(457,168	)
Equities	(31,093		)		(891		)		(14,447		)		(8,540		)
Other invested assets	(3,497		)		3,021				60				(4,047		)
Funds held – directly managed	(540		)		(907		)		937				(22,322		)
Total	$	(110,667	)		$	11,482			$	154,246			$	(492,077	)
Substantially all of the above changes in fair value are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations under the caption Net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains.
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair value of each class of financial instrument recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. There have been no material changes in the Company’s valuation techniques during the periods presented.
Fixed maturities
•	U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises—U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises securities consist primarily of bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and corporate debt securities issued by government sponsored enterprises and federally owned or established corporations. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services. The independent pricing services may use actual transaction prices for securities that have been actively traded. For securities that have not been actively traded, each pricing source has its own proprietary method to determine the fair value, which may incorporate option adjusted spreads (OAS), interest rate data and market news. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
•	U.S. states, territories and municipalities—U.S. states, territories and municipalities securities consist primarily of bonds issued by U.S. states, territories and municipalities and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services using the techniques described for U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises above. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2. Certain of the bonds that are issued by municipal housing authorities and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation are not actively traded and are priced based on internal models using unobservable inputs. Accordingly, the Company classifies these securities in Level 3. The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of these U.S. states, territories and municipalities securities classified as Level 3 is credit spreads. A significant increase (decrease) in credit spreads in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
•	Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related—Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related securities consist primarily of bonds issued by non-U.S. national governments and their agencies, non-U.S. regional governments and supranational organizations. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services using the techniques described for U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises above. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
•	Corporate—Corporate securities consist primarily of bonds issued by U.S. and foreign corporations covering a variety of industries and issuing countries. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider incorporates information including credit spreads, interest rate data and market news into the valuation of each security. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2. When a corporate security is inactively traded or the valuation model uses unobservable inputs, the Company classifies the security in Level 3.
•	Asset-backed securities—Asset-backed securities primarily consist of bonds issued by U.S. and foreign corporations that are predominantly backed by student loans, automobile loans, credit card receivables, equipment leases, and special purpose financing. With the exception of special purpose financing, these asset-backed securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider applies dealer quotes and other available trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads to the valuation. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2. Special purpose financing securities are generally inactively traded and are priced based on valuation models using unobservable inputs. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 3. The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of these asset-backed securities classified as Level 3 is credit spreads. A significant increase (decrease) in credit spreads in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
•	Residential mortgage-backed securities—Residential mortgage-backed securities primarily consist of bonds issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, as well as private, non-agency issuers. These residential mortgage-backed securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. When current market trades are not available, the pricing provider or the Company will employ proprietary models with observable inputs including other trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
•	Other mortgage-backed securities—Other mortgage-backed securities primarily consist of commercial mortgage-backed securities. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider applies dealer quotes and other available trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads to the valuation. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
In general, the methods employed by the independent pricing services to determine the fair value of the securities that have not been actively traded primarily involve the use of “matrix pricing” in which the independent pricing source applies the credit spread for a comparable security that has traded recently to the current yield curve to determine a reasonable fair value. The Company uses a pricing service ranking to consistently select the most appropriate pricing service in instances where it receives multiple quotes on the same security. When fair values are unavailable from these independent pricing sources, quotes are obtained directly from broker-dealers who are active in the corresponding markets. Most of the Company’s fixed maturities are priced from the pricing services or dealer quotes. The Company will typically not make adjustments to prices received from pricing services or dealer quotes; however, in instances where the quoted external price for a security uses significant unobservable inputs, the Company will classify that security as Level 3. The methods used to develop and substantiate the unobservable inputs used are based on the Company’s valuation policy and are dependent upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the individual investments which are generally transaction specific. The Company’s inactively traded fixed maturities are classified as Level 3. For all fixed maturity investments, the bid price is used for estimating fair value.
To validate prices, the Company compares the fair value estimates to its knowledge of the current market and will investigate prices that it considers not to be representative of fair value. The Company also reviews an internally generated fixed maturity price validation report which converts prices received for fixed maturity investments from the independent pricing sources and from broker-dealers quotes and plots OAS and duration on a sector and rating basis. The OAS is calculated using established algorithms developed by an independent risk analytics platform vendor. The OAS on the fixed maturity price validation report are compared for securities in a similar sector and having a similar rating, and outliers are identified and investigated for price reasonableness. In addition, the Company completes quantitative analyses to compare the performance of each fixed maturity investment portfolio to the performance of an appropriate benchmark, with significant differences identified and investigated.
Short-term investments
Short-term investments are valued in a manner similar to the Company’s fixed maturity investments and are generally classified in Level 2.
Equities
Equity securities include U.S. and foreign common and preferred stocks, real estate investment trusts, mutual funds and exchange traded funds. Equities, real estate investment trusts and exchange traded funds are generally classified in Level 1 as the Company uses prices received from independent pricing sources based on quoted prices in active markets. Equities classified as Level 2 are generally mutual funds invested in fixed income securities, where the net asset value of the fund is provided on a daily basis, and common stocks traded in inactive markets. Equities classified as Level 3 are generally mutual funds invested in securities other than the common stock of publicly traded companies, where the net asset value is not provided on a daily basis, and inactively traded common stocks. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of inactively traded common stocks classified as Level 3 include market return information, weighted using management’s judgment, from comparable selected publicly traded companies in the same industry, in a similar region and of a similar size, including net income multiples, tangible book value multiples, comparable returns, revenue multiples, adjusted earnings multiples and projected return on equity ratios. Significant increases (decreases) in any of these inputs could result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement. Significant unobservable inputs used in measuring the fair value measurement of inactively traded common stocks also include a liquidity discount. A significant increase (decrease) in the liquidity discount could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
To validate prices, the Company completes quantitative analyses to compare the performance of each equity investment portfolio to the performance of an appropriate benchmark, with significant differences identified and investigated.
Other invested assets
The Company’s exchange traded derivatives, such as futures, are generally classified as Level 1 as their fair values are quoted prices in active markets. The Company’s foreign exchange forward contracts, foreign currency option contracts, credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and TBAs are generally classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy and are priced by independent pricing services.
Included in the Company’s Level 3 classification, in general, are certain inactively traded weather derivatives, notes and loan receivables, notes securitizations, annuities and residuals, private equities and longevity and other total return swaps. For Level 3 instruments, the Company will generally (i) receive a price based on a manager’s or trustee’s valuation for the asset; (ii) develop an internal discounted cash flow model to measure fair value; or (iii) use market return information, adjusted if necessary and weighted using management’s judgment, from comparable selected publicly traded equity funds in a similar region and of a similar size. Where the Company receives prices from the manager or trustee, these prices are based on the manager’s or trustee’s estimate of fair value for the assets and are generally audited on an annual basis. Where the Company develops its own discounted cash flow models, the inputs will be specific to the asset in question, based on appropriate historical information, adjusted as necessary, and using appropriate discount rates. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of other invested assets classified as Level 3 include credit spreads, prepayment speeds, constant default rates, gross revenue to fair value ratios, net income multiples, effective yields, tangible book value multiples and other valuation ratios. Significant increases (decreases) in any of these inputs in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. Significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of other invested assets classified as Level 3 also include an assessment of the recoverability of intangible assets and market return information, weighted using management’s judgment, from comparable selected publicly traded companies in the same industry, in a similar region and of a similar size. Significant increases (decreases) in these inputs in isolation could result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement. As part of the Company’s modeling to determine the fair value of an investment, the Company considers counterparty credit risk as an input to the model, however, the majority of the Company’s counterparties are investment grade rated institutions and the failure of any one counterparty would not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
To validate prices, the Company will compare them to benchmarks, where appropriate, or to the business results generally within that asset class and specifically to those particular assets.
Funds held – directly managed
The segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account is comprised of fixed maturities, short-term investments and other invested assets which are fair valued on a basis consistent with the methods described above. Substantially all fixed maturities and short-term investments within the funds held – directly managed account are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
The other invested assets within the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account, which are classified as Level 3 investments, are primarily real estate mutual fund investments carried at fair value. For the real estate mutual fund investments, the Company receives a price based on the real estate fund manager’s valuation for the asset and further adjusts the price, if necessary, based on appropriate current information on the real estate market. A significant increase (decrease) to the adjustment to the real estate fund manager’s valuation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
To validate prices within the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account, the Company utilizes the methods described above.
(b) Fair Value of Financial Instrument Liabilities
At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the fair values of financial instrument liabilities recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate their carrying values, with the exception of the debt related to senior notes (Senior Notes) and the debt related to capital efficient notes (CENts).
The methods and assumptions used by the Company in estimating the fair value of each class of financial instrument liability recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for which the Company does not measure that instrument at fair value were as follows:
•	the fair value of the Senior Notes was calculated based on discounted cash flow models using observable market yields and contractual cash flows based on the aggregate principal amount outstanding of $250 million from PartnerRe Finance A LLC and $500 million from PartnerRe Finance B LLC at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013; and
•	the fair value of the CENts was calculated based on discounted cash flow models using observable market yields and contractual cash flows based on the aggregate principal amount outstanding of $63 million from PartnerRe Finance II Inc. at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
The carrying values and fair values of the Senior Notes and CENts at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
	30-Sep-14								31-Dec-13
	Carrying Value				Fair Value				Carrying Value				Fair Value
Debt related to senior notes(1)	$	750,000			$	868,702			$	750,000			$	844,331
Debt related to capital efficient notes(2)	63,384				63,231				63,384				61,094
-1	PartnerRe Finance A LLC and PartnerRe Finance B LLC, the issuers of the Senior Notes, do not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $750 million in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
-2	PartnerRe Finance II Inc., the issuer of the CENts, does not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $71 million in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s debt related to the Senior Notes and CENts was classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Disclosures about the fair value of financial instrument liabilities exclude insurance contracts and certain other financial instruments.

Derivatives

Derivatives	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	5. Derivatives
	The Company’s derivative instruments are recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in either net foreign exchange gains and losses or net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations or accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, depending on the nature of the derivative instrument. The Company’s objectives for holding or issuing these derivatives are as follows:
	Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts
	The Company utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts as part of its overall currency risk management and investment strategies. From time to time, the Company also utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge a portion of its net investment exposure resulting from the translation of its foreign subsidiaries and branches whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar.
	Foreign Currency Option Contracts and Futures Contracts
	The Company utilizes foreign currency option contracts to mitigate foreign currency risk. The Company uses exchange traded treasury note futures contracts to manage portfolio duration and equity futures to hedge certain investments.
	Credit Default Swaps
	The Company purchases protection through credit default swaps to mitigate the risk associated with its underwriting operations, most notably in the credit/surety line, and to manage market exposures.
	The Company also assumes credit risk through credit default swaps to replicate investment positions. The original term of these credit default swaps is generally five years or less and there are no recourse provisions associated with these swaps. The counterparties on the Company’s assumed credit default swaps are all investment grade rated financial institutions, however, the Company would be required to perform in the event of a default by the underlying issuer.
	Insurance-Linked Securities
	The Company enters into various weather derivatives and longevity total return swaps for which the underlying risks reference parametric weather risks for the weather derivatives and longevity risk for the longevity total return swaps.
	Total Return and Interest Rate Swaps and Interest Rate Derivatives
	The Company enters into total return swaps referencing various project, investments and principal finance obligations. The Company enters into interest rate swaps to mitigate the interest rate risk on certain of the total return swaps and certain fixed maturity investments. The Company also uses other interest rate derivatives to mitigate exposure to interest rate volatility.
	To-Be-Announced Mortgage-Backed Securities
	The Company utilizes TBAs as part of its overall investment strategy and to enhance investment performance.
	The net fair values and the related net notional values of derivatives included in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
			Asset				Liability				Net derivatives
			derivatives				derivatives
	30-Sep-14		at fair value				at fair value				Net notional				Fair value
											exposure
	Foreign exchange forward contracts		$	8,456			$	(7,904	)		$	2,441,173			$	552
	Foreign currency option contracts		901				(1,682		)		86,692				(781		)
	Futures contracts		3,723				(37		)		2,677,157				3,686
	Insurance-linked securities (1)		—				(375		)		181,238				(375		)
	Total return swaps		744				(1,859		)		42,569				(1,115		)
	Interest rate swaps (2)		—				(10,200		)		201,659				(10,200		)
	TBAs		—				(508		)		176,015				(508		)
	Total derivatives		$	13,824			$	(22,565	)						$	(8,741	)
			Asset				Liability				Net derivatives
			derivatives				derivatives
	31-Dec-13		at fair value				at fair value				Net notional				Fair value
											exposure
	Foreign exchange forward contracts		$	1,249			$	(8,648	)		$	1,957,409			$	(7,399	)
	Foreign currency option contracts		—				(535		)		87,620				(535		)
	Futures contracts		41,031				—				3,266,004				41,031
	Credit default swaps (protection purchased)		—				(71		)		14,000				(71		)
	Insurance-linked securities (1)		—				(268		)		168,724				(268		)
	Total return swaps		79				(599		)		31,740				(520		)
	Interest rate swaps (2)		2,147				(2,558		)		202,859				(411		)
	TBAs		2				(1,331		)		183,835				(1,329		)
	Total derivatives		$	44,508			$	(14,010	)						$	30,498
	-1	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, insurance-linked securities include a longevity swap for which the notional amount is not reflective of the overall potential exposure of the swap. As such, the Company has included the probable maximum loss under the swap within the net notional exposure as an approximation of the notional amount.
	-2	The Company enters into interest rate swaps to mitigate notional exposures on certain total return swaps and certain fixed maturities. Only the notional value of interest rate swaps on fixed maturities is presented separately in the table.
	The fair value of all derivatives at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is recorded in Other invested assets in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, none of the Company’s derivatives were designated as hedges.
	The gains and losses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for derivatives for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
		For the three months ended								For the nine months ended
		30-Sep-14				30-Sep-13				30-Sep-14				30-Sep-13
	Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	20,721			$	17			$	29,613			$	(36,457	)
	Foreign currency option contracts	(721		)		(799		)		427				(4,639		)
	Total included in net foreign exchange gains and losses	$	20,000			$	(782	)		$	30,040			$	(41,096	)
	Futures contracts	$	5,895			$	(30,233	)		$	(44,606	)		$	55,143
	Credit default swaps (protection purchased)	—				(6		)		(3		)		(126		)
	Credit default swaps (assumed risks)	—				7				—				122
	Insurance-linked securities	(50		)		(110		)		206				(660		)
	Total return swaps	(1,213		)		(1,762		)		(595		)		(5,421		)
	Interest rate swaps	(1,055		)		240				(9,788		)		3,416
	TBAs	273				3,858				8,387				(5,839		)
	Total included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses	$	3,850			$	(28,006	)		$	(46,399	)		$	46,635
	Total derivatives	$	23,850			$	(28,788	)		$	(16,359	)		$	5,539
	Offsetting of Derivatives
	The gross and net fair values of derivatives that are subject to offsetting in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
							Gross				Net amounts of				Gross amounts not offset
							amounts				assets/liabilities				in the balance sheet
offset in the							presented in the
30-Sep-14		Gross				balance sheet			balance sheet			Financial			Cash collateral			Net amount
		amounts										instruments			received/pledged
		recognized (1)
Total derivative assets		$	13,824			$	—			$	13,824			$	(344	)	$	(6,964	)	$	6,516
Total derivative liabilities		$	(22,565	)		$	—			$	(22,565	)		$	344		$	1,380		$	(20,841	)
31-Dec-13
Total derivative assets		$	44,508			$	—			$	44,508			$	(2	)	$	—		$	44,506
Total derivative liabilities		$	(14,010	)		$	—			$	(14,010	)		$	2		$	4,341		$	(9,667	)
-1	Amounts include all derivative instruments, irrespective of whether there is a legally enforceable master netting arrangement in place.

Net_Income_Per_Share

Net Income Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Net Income (Loss) Per Share	'
	6. Net Income per Share
	The reconciliation of basic and diluted net income per share for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data):
		For the three months ended				For the nine months ended
		30-Sep-14		30-Sep-13		30-Sep-14		30-Sep-13
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	$	196,398	$	333,423	$	778,082	$	392,221
	Less: preferred dividends	14,184		14,184		42,551		43,678
	Less: loss on redemption of preferred shares	—		—		—		9,135
	Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders	$	182,214	$	319,239	$	735,531	$	339,408
	Denominator:
	Weighted number of common shares outstanding – basic	49,514,980		53,671,245		50,461,749		56,176,260
	Share options and other (1)	1,166,345		953,906		1,104,385		1,041,301
	Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding – diluted	50,681,325		54,625,151		51,566,134		57,217,561
	Basic net income per share	$	3.68	$	5.95	$	14.58	$	6.04
	Diluted net income per share (1)	$	3.6	$	5.84	$	14.26	$	5.93
	Anti-dilutive common shares excluded from weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding - diluted (1)	134,470		140,516		135,681		114,195
	-1	Where the exercise price of share based awards is greater than the average market price of the common shares, the common shares are considered anti-dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding - diluted.

Noncontrolling_interests

Noncontrolling interests	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]	'
Noncontrolling Interest Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	7. Noncontrolling Interests
	In March 2013, the Company formed with other third party investors, Lorenz Re Ltd. (Lorenz Re), a Bermuda domiciled special purpose insurer to provide additional capacity to the Company for a diversified portfolio of catastrophe reinsurance treaties over a multi-year period on a fully collateralized reinsurance basis. The original business was written by the Company and was ceded to Lorenz Re effective April 1, 2013.
	Lorenz Re’s non-voting redeemable preferred share capital is redeemable at the option of the Company and is expected to be redeemed following the commutation of the portfolio back to the Company on or before June 1, 2016.
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the total assets of Lorenz Re were $101.8 million and $99.6 million, respectively, primarily consisting of cash and investments. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the total liabilities were $19.4 million and $11.1 million, respectively, primarily consisting of unearned premiums and unpaid losses and loss expenses. The assets of Lorenz Re can only be used to settle the liabilities of Lorenz Re and there is no recourse to the Company for any liabilities of Lorenz Re.
	The reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the noncontrolling interests in Lorenz Re for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
		For the nine months ended
		30-Sep-14			30-Sep-13
	Balance at beginning of period	$	56,627		$	—
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9,914			5,296
	Distribution to noncontrolling interests	(14,265		)	—
	Sale of shares to noncontrolling interests	—			47,193
	Balance at end of period	$	52,276		$	52,489

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	8. Commitments and Contingencies
	(a) Legal Proceedings
	There has been no significant change in legal proceedings at September 30, 2014 compared to December 31, 2013. See Note 18(f) to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
	(b) Other
	At September 30, 2014, there were no restrictions on the Company’s ability to pay common and preferred shareholders’ dividends from retained earnings. The declaration of dividends by PartnerRe Bermuda is subject to prior regulatory approval through December 31, 2014.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	9. Segment Information
	The Company monitors the performance of its operations in three segments, Non-life, Life and Health and Corporate and Other as described in Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The Non-life segment is further divided into four sub-segments: North America, Global (Non-U.S.) P&C, Global Specialty and Catastrophe.
	The North America sub-segment includes agriculture, casualty, credit/surety, motor, multiline, property and other risks generally originating in the United States. The Global (Non-U.S.) P&C sub-segment includes casualty, motor and property business generally originating outside of the United States. The Global Specialty sub-segment is comprised of business that is generally considered to be specialized due to the sophisticated technical underwriting required to analyze risks, and is global in nature. This sub-segment consists of several lines of business for which the Company believes it has developed specialized knowledge and underwriting capabilities. These lines of business include agriculture, aviation/space, credit/surety, energy, engineering, marine, specialty casualty, specialty property and other lines. The Catastrophe sub-segment is comprised of the Company’s catastrophe line of business. The Life and Health segment includes mortality, longevity and accident and health lines of business. Corporate and Other is comprised of the capital markets and investment related activities of the Company, including principal finance transactions, insurance-linked securities and strategic investments, and its corporate activities, including other operating expenses.
	Since the Company does not manage its assets by segment, net investment income is not allocated to the Non-life segment. However, because of the interest-sensitive nature of some of the Company’s Life and Health products, net investment income is considered in Management’s assessment of the profitability of the Life and Health segment. The following items are not considered in evaluating the results of the Non-life and Life and Health segments: net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses, interest expense, amortization of intangible assets, net foreign exchange gains and losses, income tax expense or benefit and interest in earnings and losses of equity method investments. Segment results are shown before consideration of intercompany transactions.
	Management measures results for the Non-life segment on the basis of the loss ratio, acquisition ratio, technical ratio, other operating expense ratio and combined ratio (all defined below). Management measures results for the Non-life sub-segments on the basis of the loss ratio, acquisition ratio and technical ratio. Management measures results for the Life and Health segment on the basis of the allocated underwriting result, which includes revenues from net premiums earned, other income or loss and allocated net investment income for Life and Health, and expenses from life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other operating expenses.
	The segment results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars, except ratios):
	Segment Information
	For the three months ended September 30, 2014
		North			Global			Global			Catastrophe			Total			Life			Corporate			Total
		America			(Non-U.S.)			Specialty						Non-life			and Health			and Other
					P&C									segment			segment
	Gross premiums written	$	372		$	162		$	432		$	59		$	1,025		$	336		$	—		$	1,361
	Net premiums written	$	372		$	164		$	428		$	55		$	1,019		$	325		$	(1	)	$	1,343
	Decrease in unearned premiums	52			38			20			98			208			6			—			214
	Net premiums earned	$	424		$	202		$	448		$	153		$	1,227		$	331		$	(1	)	$	1,557
	Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	(247		)	(123		)	(279		)	(39		)	(688		)	(272		)	—			(960		)
	Acquisition costs	(106		)	(56		)	(105		)	(17		)	(284		)	(38		)	—			(322		)
	Technical result	$	71		$	23		$	64		$	97		$	255		$	21		$	(1	)	$	275
	Other (loss) income													(1		)	2			1			2
	Other operating expenses													(62		)	(17		)	(29		)	(108		)
	Underwriting result													$	192		$	6		n/a			$	169
	Net investment income																14			104			118
	Allocated underwriting result (1)																$	20		n/a			n/a
	Net realized and unrealized investment losses																			(34		)	(34		)
	Interest expense																			(12		)	(12		)
	Amortization of intangible assets																			(7		)	(7		)
	Net foreign exchange gains																			8			8
	Income tax expense																			(46		)	(46		)
	Interest in earnings of equity method investments																			5			5
	Net income																			n/a			$	201
	Loss ratio (2)	58.2		%	61.1		%	62.3		%	25.2		%	56.1		%
	Acquisition ratio (3)	24.9			27.6			23.5			11.7			23.1
	Technical ratio (4)	83.1		%	88.7		%	85.8		%	36.9		%	79.2		%
	Other operating expense ratio (5)													5
	Combined ratio (6)													84.2		%
	-1	Allocated underwriting result is defined as net premiums earned, other income or loss and allocated net investment income less life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other operating expenses.
	-2	Loss ratio is obtained by dividing losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
	-3	Acquisition ratio is obtained by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
	-4	Technical ratio is defined as the sum of the loss ratio and the acquisition ratio.
	-5	Other operating expense ratio is obtained by dividing other operating expenses by net premiums earned.
	-6	Combined ratio is defined as the sum of the technical ratio and the other operating expense ratio.
	Segment Information
	For the three months ended September 30, 2013
		North			Global			Global			Catastrophe			Total			Life			Corporate			Total
		America			(Non-U.S.)			Specialty						Non-life			and Health			and Other
					P&C									segment			segment
	Gross premiums written	$	409		$	157		$	396		$	79		$	1,041		$	235		$	5		$	1,281
	Net premiums written	$	408		$	157		$	389		$	72		$	1,026		$	234		$	5		$	1,265
	Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	17			38			(7		)	99			147			9			—			156
	Net premiums earned	$	425		$	195		$	382		$	171		$	1,173		$	243		$	5		$	1,421
	Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	(197		)	(90		)	(228		)	(42		)	(557		)	(195		)	1			(751		)
	Acquisition costs	(101		)	(50		)	(92		)	(16		)	(259		)	(24		)	—			(283		)
	Technical result	$	127		$	55		$	62		$	113		$	357		$	24		$	6		$	387
	Other income													2			3			—			5
	Other operating expenses													(62		)	(17		)	(29		)	(108		)
	Underwriting result													$	297		$	10		n/a			$	284
	Net investment income																15			107			122
	Allocated underwriting result																$	25		n/a			n/a
	Net realized and unrealized investment gains																			16			16
	Interest expense																			(12		)	(12		)
	Amortization of intangible assets																			(7		)	(7		)
	Net foreign exchange losses																			(1		)	(1		)
	Income tax expense																			(70		)	(70		)
Interest in earnings of equity method investments																			6			6
Net income																			n/a			$	338
Loss ratio	46.3		%	46		%	59.8		%	24.5		%	47.5		%
Acquisition ratio	23.9			25.7			24			9			22.1
Technical ratio	70.2		%	71.7		%	83.8		%	33.5		%	69.6		%
Other operating expense ratio													5.3
Combined ratio													74.9		%
Segment Information
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014
	North			Global			Global			Catastrophe			Total			Life			Corporate			Total
	America			(Non-U.S.)			Specialty						Non-life			and Health			and Other
				P&C									segment			segment
Gross premiums written	$	1,302		$	682		$	1,348		$	412		$	3,744		$	951		$	—		$	4,695
Net premiums written	$	1,291		$	672		$	1,250		$	370		$	3,583		$	918		$	(1	)	$	4,500
Increase in unearned premiums	(99		)	(104		)	(42		)	(78		)	(323		)	(14		)	—			(337		)
Net premiums earned	$	1,192		$	568		$	1,208		$	292		$	3,260		$	904		$	(1	)	$	4,163
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	(747		)	(319		)	(749		)	(38		)	(1,853		)	(740		)	—			(2,593		)
Acquisition costs	(299		)	(162		)	(283		)	(34		)	(778		)	(111		)	—			(889		)
Technical result	$	146		$	87		$	176		$	220		$	629		$	53		$	(1	)	$	681
Other income													1			6			5			12
Other operating expenses													(187		)	(52		)	(88		)	(327		)
Underwriting result													$	443		$	7		n/a			$	366
Net investment income																45			320			365
Allocated underwriting result																$	52		n/a			n/a
Net realized and unrealized investment gains																			273			273
Interest expense																			(36		)	(36		)
Amortization of intangible assets																			(21		)	(21		)
Net foreign exchange gains																			11			11
Income tax expense																			(186		)	(186		)
Interest in earnings of equity method investments																			16			16
Net income																			n/a			$	788
Loss ratio	62.6		%	56.2		%	62.1		%	12.9		%	56.8		%
Acquisition ratio	25.1			28.5			23.4			11.5			23.9
Technical ratio	87.7		%	84.7		%	85.5		%	24.4		%	80.7		%
Other operating expense ratio													5.7
Combined ratio													86.4		%
Segment Information
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013
	North			Global			Global			Catastrophe			Total			Life			Corporate			Total
	America			(Non-U.S.)			Specialty						Non-life			and Health			and Other
				P&C									segment			segment
Gross premiums written	$	1,228		$	690		$	1,253		$	478		$	3,649		$	722		$	8		$	4,379
Net premiums written	$	1,215		$	682		$	1,159		$	433		$	3,489		$	715		$	7		$	4,211
Increase in unearned premiums	(99		)	(152		)	(68		)	(97		)	(416		)	(17		)	(1		)	(434		)
Net premiums earned	$	1,116		$	530		$	1,091		$	336		$	3,073		$	698		$	6		$	3,777
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	(682		)	(263		)	(697		)	(81		)	(1,723		)	(558		)	2			(2,279		)
Acquisition costs	(253		)	(134		)	(257		)	(33		)	(677		)	(82		)	—			(759		)
Technical result	$	181		$	133		$	137		$	222		$	673		$	58		$	8		$	739
Other income													3			9			1			13
Other operating expenses													(189		)	(52		)	(128		)	(369		)
Underwriting result													$	487		$	15		n/a			$	383
Net investment income																45			325			370
Allocated underwriting result																$	60		n/a			n/a
Net realized and unrealized investment losses																			(260		)	(260		)
Interest expense																			(37		)	(37		)
Amortization of intangible assets																			(21		)	(21		)
Net foreign exchange losses																			(10		)	(10		)
Income tax expense																			(37		)	(37		)
Interest in earnings of equity method investments																			10			10
Net income																			n/a			$	398
Loss ratio	61.1		%	49.7		%	63.9		%	24.2		%	56.1		%
Acquisition ratio	22.7			25.2			23.6			9.7			22
Technical ratio	83.8		%	74.9		%	87.5		%	33.9		%	78.1		%
Other operating expense ratio													6.1
Combined ratio													84.2		%

Significant_Accounting_Policie1

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of accounting	'
	The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Use Of Estimates	'
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires Management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. While Management believes that the amounts included in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect its best estimates and assumptions, actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company’s principal estimates include:
	•	Unpaid losses and loss expenses;
	•	Policy benefits for life and annuity contracts;
	•	Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned;
	•	Recoverability of deferred acquisition costs;
	•	Recoverability of deferred tax assets;
	•	Valuation of goodwill and intangible assets; and
	•	Valuation of certain assets and derivative financial instruments that are measured using significant unobservable inputs.

Fair_Value_Tables

Fair Value (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Financial instruments measured at fair value and categorized between Levels 1, 2 and 3	'
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value were classified between Levels 1, 2 and 3 as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
	30-Sep-14		Quoted prices in				Significant				Significant				Total
			active markets for				other observable				unobservable
			identical assets				inputs				inputs
			(Level 1)				(Level 2)				(Level 3)
	Fixed maturities
	U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises		$	—			$	2,184,417			$	—			$	2,184,417
	U.S. states, territories and municipalities		—				189,755				130,743				320,498
	Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related		—				2,209,335				—				2,209,335
	Corporate		—				5,706,486				—				5,706,486
	Asset-backed securities		—				689,609				458,175				1,147,784
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		—				2,331,870				—				2,331,870
	Other mortgage-backed securities		—				50,239				—				50,239
	Fixed maturities		$	—			$	13,361,711			$	588,918			$	13,950,629
	Short-term investments		$	—			$	37,016			$	—			$	37,016
	Equities
	Real estate investment trusts		$	213,461			$	—			$	—			$	213,461
	Energy		155,113				—				—				155,113
	Insurance		127,740				—				—				127,740
	Finance		70,010				8,431				19,136				97,577
	Consumer noncyclical		91,334				—				—				91,334
	Communications		72,619				—				1,966				74,585
	Technology		47,848				—				7,318				55,166
	Industrials		43,930				—				—				43,930
	Consumer cyclical		36,252				—				—				36,252
	Utilities		32,012				—				—				32,012
	Other		17,372				—				7				17,379
	Mutual funds and exchange traded funds		48,383				—				8,375				56,758
	Equities		$	956,074			$	8,431			$	36,802			$	1,001,307
	Other invested assets
	Derivative assets
	Foreign exchange forward contracts		$	—			$	8,456			$	—			$	8,456
	Foreign currency option contracts		—				901				—				901
	Futures contracts		3,723				—				—				3,723
	Total return swaps		—				—				744				744
	Other
	Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization		—				—				45,396				45,396
	Annuities and residuals		—				—				14,880				14,880
	Private equities		—				—				53,019				53,019
	Derivative liabilities
	Foreign exchange forward contracts		—				(7,904		)		—				(7,904		)
	Foreign currency option contracts		—				(1,682		)		—				(1,682		)
	Futures contracts		(37		)		—				—				(37		)
	Insurance-linked securities		—				—				(375		)		(375		)
	Total return swaps		—				—				(1,859		)		(1,859		)
	Interest rate swaps		—				(10,200		)		—				(10,200		)
	TBAs		—				(508		)		—				(508		)
	Other invested assets		$	3,686			$	(10,937	)		$	111,805			$	104,554
	Funds held – directly managed
	U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises		$	—			$	149,273			$	—			$	149,273
	U.S. states, territories and municipalities		—				—				311				311
	Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related		—				123,210				—				123,210
	Corporate		—				191,621				—				191,621
	Other invested assets		—				—				14,553				14,553
	Funds held – directly managed		$	—			$	464,104			$	14,864			$	478,968
	Total		$	959,760			$	13,860,325			$	752,389			$	15,572,474
	31-Dec-13		Quoted prices in				Significant other				Significant				Total
			active markets for				observable				unobservable
			identical assets				inputs				inputs
			(Level 1)				(Level 2)				(Level 3)
	Fixed maturities
	U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises		$	—			$	1,623,859			$	—			$	1,623,859
	U.S. states, territories and municipalities		—				16,207				108,380				124,587
Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related		—				2,353,699				—				2,353,699
Corporate		—				6,048,663				—				6,048,663
Asset-backed securities		—				691,654				446,577				1,138,231
Residential mortgage-backed securities		—				2,268,517				—				2,268,517
Other mortgage-backed securities		—				35,747				—				35,747
Fixed maturities		$	—			$	13,038,346			$	554,957			$	13,593,303
Short-term investments		$	—			$	13,546			$	—			$	13,546
Equities
Real estate investment trusts		$	175,796			$	—			$	—			$	175,796
Energy		159,509				—				—				159,509
Insurance		144,020				—				—				144,020
Finance		108,944				9,556				20,207				138,707
Consumer noncyclical		108,663				—				—				108,663
Communications		70,792				—				2,199				72,991
Technology		53,768				—				7,752				61,520
Industrials		47,677				—				—				47,677
Consumer cyclical		45,915				—				—				45,915
Utilities		37,151				—				—				37,151
Other		19,993				—				—				19,993
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds		61,902				139,322				7,887				209,111
Equities		$	1,034,130			$	148,878			$	38,045			$	1,221,053
Other invested assets
Derivative assets
Foreign exchange forward contracts		$	—			$	1,249			$	—			$	1,249
Futures contracts		41,031				—				—				41,031
Total return swaps		—				—				79				79
Interest rate swaps		—				2,147				—				2,147
TBAs		—				2				—				2
Other
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization		—				—				41,446				41,446
Annuities and residuals		—				—				24,064				24,064
Private equities		—				—				39,131				39,131
Derivative liabilities
Foreign exchange forward contracts		—				(8,648		)		—				(8,648		)
Foreign currency option contracts		—				(535		)		—				(535		)
Credit default swaps (protection purchased)		—				(71		)		—				(71		)
Insurance-linked securities		—				—				(268		)		(268		)
Total return swaps		—				—				(599		)		(599		)
Interest rate swaps		—				(2,558		)		—				(2,558		)
TBAs		—				(1,331		)		—				(1,331		)
Other invested assets		$	41,031			$	(9,745	)		$	103,853			$	135,139
Funds held – directly managed
U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises		$	—			$	157,296			$	—			$	157,296
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		—				—				286				286
Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related		—				137,186				—				137,186
Corporate		—				248,947				—				248,947
Short-term investments		—				2,426				—				2,426
Other invested assets		—				—				15,165				15,165
Funds held – directly managed		$	—			$	545,855			$	15,451			$	561,306
Total		$	1,075,161			$	13,736,880			$	712,306			$	15,524,347
Reconciliation of beginning and ending balances for all financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs	'
	The reconciliations of the beginning and ending balances for all financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
	For the nine months ended September 30, 2014		Balance at				Realized and				Purchases				Settlements			Net		Balance			Change in
			beginning				unrealized				and				and			transfers		at end of			unrealized
			of period				investment				issuances (1)				sales			into/(out of)		period			investment gains (losses)
							gains (losses)											Level 3					relating to
							included in																assets held at
							net income																end of period
	Fixed maturities
	U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	108,380			$	10,488			$	14,220			$	(2,345	)	$	—	$	130,743		$	10,483
	Asset-backed securities		446,577				4,698				138,538				(131,638		)	—		458,175			4,993
	Fixed maturities		$	554,957			$	15,186			$	152,758			$	(133,983	)	$	—	$	588,918		$	15,476
	Equities
	Finance		$	20,207			$	(1,071	)		$	—			$	—		$	—	$	19,136		$	(1,071	)
	Communications		2,199				(233		)		—				—			—		1,966			(233		)
	Technology		7,752				(434		)		—				—			—		7,318			(434		)
	Other		—				(1		)		8				—			—		7			(1		)
	Mutual funds and exchange traded funds		7,887				488				—				—			—		8,375			488
	Equities		$	38,045			$	(1,251	)		$	8			$	—		$	—	$	36,802		$	(1,251	)
	Other invested assets
	Derivatives, net		$	(788	)		$	(391	)		$	(871	)		$	560		$	—	$	(1,490	)	$	(391	)
	Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization		41,446				2,188				32,202				(30,440		)	—		45,396			3,707
	Annuities and residuals		24,064				(84		)		—				(9,100		)	—		14,880			(44		)
	Private equities		39,131				(3,179		)		20,792				(3,725		)	—		53,019			(3,210		)
	Other invested assets		$	103,853			$	(1,466	)		$	52,123			$	(42,705	)	$	—	$	111,805		$	62
	Funds held – directly managed
	U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	286			$	25			$	—			$	—		$	—	$	311		$	25
	Other invested assets		15,165				(1,087		)		475				—			—		14,553			(1,087		)
	Funds held – directly managed		$	15,451			$	(1,062	)		$	475			$	—		$	—	$	14,864		$	(1,062	)
	Total		$	712,306			$	11,407			$	205,364			$	(176,688	)	$	—	$	752,389		$	13,225
	-1	Purchases and issuances of derivatives include issuances of $0.9 million.
	For the nine months ended September 30, 2013		Balance at				Realized and				Purchases				Settlements			Net		Balance			Change in
			beginning				unrealized				and				and			transfers		at end of			unrealized
			of period				investment				issuances (1)				sales (2)			into/(out of)		period			investment
							(losses) gains											Level 3					(losses) gains relating to
							included in																assets held at
							net income																end of period
	Fixed maturities
	U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	233,235			$	(5,427	)		$	61,706			$	(379	)	$	—	$	289,135		$	(5,427	)
	Corporate		100,904				(1,277		)		—				—			—		99,627			(1,277		)
	Asset-backed securities		323,134				478				241,607				(111,466		)	—		453,753			(7,182		)
	Fixed maturities		$	657,273			$	(6,226	)		$	303,313			$	(111,845	)	$	—	$	842,515		$	(13,886	)
	Equities
	Finance		$	13,477			$	808			$	—			$	—		$	—	$	14,285		$	808
	Communications		—				103				2,040				—			—		2,143			103
	Technology		6,987				2,163				—				—			—		9,150			2,163
	Mutual funds and exchange traded funds		7,264				410				—				—			—		7,674			410
	Equities		$	27,728			$	3,484			$	2,040			$	—		$	—	$	33,252		$	3,484
	Other invested assets
	Derivatives, net		$	3,911			$	(6,084	)		$	121			$	1,105		$	—	$	(947	)	$	(349	)
	Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization		34,902				1,867				14,598				(3,586		)	—		47,781			1,867
	Annuities and residuals		46,882				506				—				(20,449		)	—		26,939			481
	Private equities		1,404				(3,811		)		24,285				—			—		21,878			(3,811		)
	Other invested assets		$	87,099			$	(7,522	)		$	39,004			$	(22,930	)	$	—	$	95,651		$	(1,812	)
	Funds held – directly managed
	U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	345			$	(47	)		$	—			$	—		$	—	$	298		$	(47	)
	Other invested assets		17,976				(1,653		)		—				(757		)	—		15,566			(589		)
	Funds held – directly managed		$	18,321			$	(1,700	)		$	—			$	(757	)	$	—	$	15,864		$	(636	)
	Total		$	790,421			$	(11,964	)		$	344,357			$	(135,532	)	$	—	$	987,282		$	(12,850	)
	-1	Purchases and issuances of derivatives include issuances of $0.8 million.
	-2	Settlements and sales of asset-backed securities, derivatives and annuities and residuals include sales of $13.7 million, $1.4 million and $6.3 million, respectively
	The reconciliations of the beginning and ending balances for all financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
	For the three months ended September 30, 2014		Balance at				Realized and				Purchases				Settlements			Net		Balance			Change in
			beginning				unrealized				and				and			transfers		at end			unrealized
of period			investment				issuances				sales				into/		of period			investment
			gains (losses)												(out of)					gains (losses)
			included in												Level 3					relating to
			net income																	assets held at
																				end of period
Fixed maturities
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	123,617			$	3,636			$	5,695			$	(2,205	)	$	—	$	130,743		$	3,747
Asset-backed securities		489,106				(4,439		)		11,085				(37,577		)	—		458,175			(4,403		)
Fixed maturities		$	612,723			$	(803	)		$	16,780			$	(39,782	)	$	—	$	588,918		$	(656	)
Equities
Finance		$	19,564			$	(428	)		$	—			$	—		$	—	$	19,136		$	(428	)
Communications		2,067				(101		)		—				—			—		1,966			(101		)
Technology		7,645				(327		)		—				—			—		7,318			(327		)
Other		7				—				—				—			—		7			—
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds		8,246				129				—				—			—		8,375			129
Equities		$	37,529			$	(727	)		$	—			$	—		$	—	$	36,802		$	(727	)
Other invested assets
Derivatives, net		$	(852	)		$	(1,255	)		$	57			$	560		$	—	$	(1,490	)	$	(1,255	)
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization		38,603				(1,379		)		29,286				(21,114		)	—		45,396			(1,379		)
Annuities and residuals		17,134				(475		)		—				(1,779		)	—		14,880			(474		)
Private equities		54,928				(1,348		)		248				(809		)	—		53,019			(1,348		)
Other invested assets		$	109,813			$	(4,457	)		$	29,591			$	(23,142	)	$	—	$	111,805		$	(4,456	)
Funds held – directly managed
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	305			$	6			$	—			$	—		$	—	$	311		$	6
Other invested assets		15,800				(1,467		)		220				—			—		14,553			(1,467		)
Funds held – directly managed		$	16,105			$	(1,461	)		$	220			$	—		$	—	$	14,864		$	(1,461	)
Total		$	776,170			$	(7,448	)		$	46,591			$	(62,924	)	$	—	$	752,389		$	(7,300	)
For the three months ended September 30, 2013		Balance at				Realized and				Purchases				Settlements			Net		Balance			Change in
		beginning				unrealized				and				and			transfers		at end of			unrealized
		of period				investment				issuances				sales (1)			into/(out of)		period			investment
						gains (losses)											Level 3					gains (losses)
						included in																relating to
						net income																assets held at
																						end of period
Fixed maturities
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	219,163			$	8,431			$	61,706			$	(165	)	$	—	$	289,135		$	8,431
Corporate		99,896				(269		)		—				—			—		99,627			(269		)
Asset-backed securities		426,288				4,800				86,442				(63,777		)	—		453,753			(3,043		)
Fixed maturities		$	745,347			$	12,962			$	148,148			$	(63,942	)	$	—	$	842,515		$	5,119
Equities
Finance		$	13,000			$	1,285			$	—			$	—		$	—	$	14,285		$	1,285
Communications		2,040				103				—				—			—		2,143			103
Technology		8,012				1,138				—				—			—		9,150			1,138
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds		7,549				125				—				—			—		7,674			125
Equities		$	30,601			$	2,651			$	—			$	—		$	—	$	33,252		$	2,651
Other invested assets
Derivatives, net		$	2,333			$	(1,885	)		$	—			$	(1,395	)	$	—	$	(947	)	$	(140	)
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization		44,224				3,250				1,248				(941		)	—		47,781			3,250
Annuities and residuals		30,555				413				—				(4,029		)	—		26,939			166
Private equities		21,100				(299		)		1,077				—			—		21,878			(299		)
Other invested assets		$	98,212			$	1,479			$	2,325			$	(6,365	)	$	—	$	95,651		$	2,977
Funds held – directly managed
U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	337			$	(39	)		$	—			$	—		$	—	$	298		$	(39	)
Other invested assets		15,207				1,045				—				(686		)	—		15,566			1,045
Funds held – directly managed		$	15,544			$	1,006			$	—			$	(686	)	$	—	$	15,864		$	1,006
Total		$	889,704			$	18,098			$	150,473			$	(70,993	)	$	—	$	987,282		$	11,753
-1	Settlements and sales of asset-backed securities and derivatives include sales of $13.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Table Text Block]	'
	The significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows (fair value in thousands of U.S. dollars):
	30-Sep-14		Fair value				Valuation techniques		Unobservable inputs		Range
											(Weighted average)
	Fixed maturities
	U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	130,743			Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		2.4% – 10.0% (4.7%)
	Asset-backed securities – other		458,175				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		4.0% – 12.0% (6.9%)
	Equities
	Finance		13,582				Weighted market comparables		Net income multiple		19.0 (19.0)
									Tangible book value multiple		1.3 (1.3)
									Liquidity discount		25.0% (25.0%)
									Comparable return		-1.4% (-1.4%)
	Finance		5,554				Profitability analysis		Projected return on equity		14.0% (14.0%)
	Communications		1,966				Weighted market comparables		Adjusted earnings multiple		9.4 (9.4)
									Comparable return		-10.6% (-10.6%)
	Technology		7,318				Weighted market comparables		Revenue multiple		1.4 (1.4)
									Adjusted earnings multiple		8.3 (8.3)
	Other invested assets
	Total return swaps		(1,115		)		Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		3.5% – 18.5% (14.3%)
	Notes and loan receivables		9,589				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		6.7% (6.7%)
	Notes and loan receivables		14,879				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		17.5% (17.5%)
									Gross revenue/fair value		1.3 – 1.6 (1.6)
	Notes securitization		20,928				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		3.5% – 6.6% (6.3%)
	Annuities and residuals		14,880				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		5.3% – 8.1% (7.0%)
									Prepayment speed		0% – 15.0% (4.8%)
									Constant default rate		0.3% – 23.0% (7.6%)
	Private equity – direct		9,582				Discounted cash flow and weighted market comparables		Net income multiple		8.3 (8.3)
									Tangible book value multiple		1.6 (1.6)
									Recoverability of intangible assets		0% (0%)
	Private equity funds		14,422				Lag reported market value		Net asset value, as reported		100.0% (100.0%)
									Market adjustments		-4.6% – 1.9% (-2.3%)
	Private equity – other		29,015				Discounted cash flow		Effective yield		5.8% (5.8%)
	Funds held – directly managed
	Other invested assets		14,553				Lag reported market value		Net asset value, as reported		100.0% (100.0%)
									Market adjustments		-12.9% – 0% (-12.1%)
	December 31, 2013		Fair value				Valuation techniques		Unobservable inputs		Range
											(Weighted average)
	Fixed maturities
	U.S. states, territories and municipalities		$	108,380			Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		2.9% – 9.9% (5.3%)
	Asset-backed securities – interest only		21				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		5.5% – 10.7% (8.8%)
	Asset-backed securities – other		446,556				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		4.0% – 12.2% (7.1%)
	Equities
	Finance		15,483				Weighted market comparables		Net income multiple		14.6 (14.6)
									Tangible book value multiple		1.1 (1.1)
									Liquidity discount		25.0% (25.0%)
									Comparable return		8.5% (8.5%)
	Finance		4,724				Profitability analysis		Projected return on equity		14.0% (14.0%)
	Communications		2,199				Weighted market comparables		Adjusted earnings multiple		9.4 (9.4)
									Comparable return		0% (0%)
	Technology		7,752				Weighted market comparables		Revenue multiple		0.9 (0.9)
									Adjusted earnings multiple		4.4 (4.4)
	Other invested assets
	Total return swaps		(520		)		Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		2.8% – 18.9% (17.0%)
	Notes and loan receivables		21,280				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		17.5% (17.5%)
									Gross revenue/fair value		1.5 (1.5)
	Notes securitization		20,166				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		6.2% (6.2%)
	Annuities and residuals		24,064				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		4.0% – 7.9% (5.8%)
									Prepayment speed		0% – 15.0% (6.4%)
									Constant default rate		0.3% – 35.0% (12.4%)
	Private equity – direct		11,742				Discounted cash flow and weighted market comparables		Net income multiple		8.3 (8.3)
									Tangible book value multiple		1.6 (1.6)
									Recoverability of intangible assets		0% (0%)
	Private equity funds		8,993				Lag reported market value		Net asset value, as reported		100.0% (100.0%)
									Market adjustments		1.8% – 9.8% (8.3%)
Private equity – other		18,396				Discounted cash flow		Credit spreads		3.8% (3.8%)
Funds held – directly managed
Other invested assets		15,165				Lag reported market value		Net asset value, as reported		100.0% (100.0%)
								Market adjustments		-22.9% – 0% (-15.5%)
Change in fair value of financial instruments subject to fair value option	'
	Changes in the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments subject to the fair value option during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
		For the three months ended								For the nine months ended
		30-Sep-14				30-Sep-13				30-Sep-14				30-Sep-13
	Fixed maturities and short-term investments	$	(75,537	)		$	10,259			$	167,696			$	(457,168	)
	Equities	(31,093		)		(891		)		(14,447		)		(8,540		)
	Other invested assets	(3,497		)		3,021				60				(4,047		)
	Funds held – directly managed	(540		)		(907		)		937				(22,322		)
	Total	$	(110,667	)		$	11,482			$	154,246			$	(492,077	)
Carrying values and fair values of financial instrument liabilities	'
	The carrying values and fair values of the Senior Notes and CENts at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
		30-Sep-14								31-Dec-13
		Carrying Value				Fair Value				Carrying Value				Fair Value
	Debt related to senior notes(1)	$	750,000			$	868,702			$	750,000			$	844,331
	Debt related to capital efficient notes(2)	63,384				63,231				63,384				61,094
	-1	PartnerRe Finance A LLC and PartnerRe Finance B LLC, the issuers of the Senior Notes, do not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $750 million in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
	-2	PartnerRe Finance II Inc., the issuer of the CENts, does not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $71 million in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Derivatives_Tables

Derivatives (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Fair Values and Related Notional Values of Derivatives [Table Text Block]	'
	The net fair values and the related net notional values of derivatives included in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
			Asset				Liability				Net derivatives
			derivatives				derivatives
	30-Sep-14		at fair value				at fair value				Net notional				Fair value
											exposure
	Foreign exchange forward contracts		$	8,456			$	(7,904	)		$	2,441,173			$	552
	Foreign currency option contracts		901				(1,682		)		86,692				(781		)
	Futures contracts		3,723				(37		)		2,677,157				3,686
	Insurance-linked securities (1)		—				(375		)		181,238				(375		)
	Total return swaps		744				(1,859		)		42,569				(1,115		)
	Interest rate swaps (2)		—				(10,200		)		201,659				(10,200		)
	TBAs		—				(508		)		176,015				(508		)
	Total derivatives		$	13,824			$	(22,565	)						$	(8,741	)
			Asset				Liability				Net derivatives
			derivatives				derivatives
	31-Dec-13		at fair value				at fair value				Net notional				Fair value
											exposure
	Foreign exchange forward contracts		$	1,249			$	(8,648	)		$	1,957,409			$	(7,399	)
	Foreign currency option contracts		—				(535		)		87,620				(535		)
	Futures contracts		41,031				—				3,266,004				41,031
	Credit default swaps (protection purchased)		—				(71		)		14,000				(71		)
	Insurance-linked securities (1)		—				(268		)		168,724				(268		)
	Total return swaps		79				(599		)		31,740				(520		)
	Interest rate swaps (2)		2,147				(2,558		)		202,859				(411		)
	TBAs		2				(1,331		)		183,835				(1,329		)
	Total derivatives		$	44,508			$	(14,010	)						$	30,498
	-1	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, insurance-linked securities include a longevity swap for which the notional amount is not reflective of the overall potential exposure of the swap. As such, the Company has included the probable maximum loss under the swap within the net notional exposure as an approximation of the notional amount.
	-2	The Company enters into interest rate swaps to mitigate notional exposures on certain total return swaps and certain fixed maturities. Only the notional value of interest rate swaps on fixed maturities is presented separately in the table.
Gains and Losses on Derivatives not Designated as Hedges [Table Text Block]	'
	The gains and losses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for derivatives for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
		For the three months ended								For the nine months ended
		30-Sep-14				30-Sep-13				30-Sep-14				30-Sep-13
	Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	20,721			$	17			$	29,613			$	(36,457	)
	Foreign currency option contracts	(721		)		(799		)		427				(4,639		)
	Total included in net foreign exchange gains and losses	$	20,000			$	(782	)		$	30,040			$	(41,096	)
	Futures contracts	$	5,895			$	(30,233	)		$	(44,606	)		$	55,143
	Credit default swaps (protection purchased)	—				(6		)		(3		)		(126		)
	Credit default swaps (assumed risks)	—				7				—				122
	Insurance-linked securities	(50		)		(110		)		206				(660		)
	Total return swaps	(1,213		)		(1,762		)		(595		)		(5,421		)
	Interest rate swaps	(1,055		)		240				(9,788		)		3,416
	TBAs	273				3,858				8,387				(5,839		)
	Total included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses	$	3,850			$	(28,006	)		$	(46,399	)		$	46,635
	Total derivatives	$	23,850			$	(28,788	)		$	(16,359	)		$	5,539
Offsetting Disclosures [Table Text Block]	'
	The gross and net fair values of derivatives that are subject to offsetting in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
							Gross				Net amounts of				Gross amounts not offset
							amounts				assets/liabilities				in the balance sheet
							offset in the				presented in the
	30-Sep-14		Gross				balance sheet				balance sheet				Financial			Cash collateral			Net amount
			amounts												instruments			received/pledged
			recognized (1)
	Total derivative assets		$	13,824			$	—			$	13,824			$	(344	)	$	(6,964	)	$	6,516
	Total derivative liabilities		$	(22,565	)		$	—			$	(22,565	)		$	344		$	1,380		$	(20,841	)
	31-Dec-13
	Total derivative assets		$	44,508			$	—			$	44,508			$	(2	)	$	—		$	44,506
	Total derivative liabilities		$	(14,010	)		$	—			$	(14,010	)		$	2		$	4,341		$	(9,667	)
	-1	Amounts include all derivative instruments, irrespective of whether there is a legally enforceable master netting arrangement in place.

Net_Income_Per_Share_Tables

Net Income Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Net Income Per Share Table [Text Block]	'
	The reconciliation of basic and diluted net income per share for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data):
		For the three months ended				For the nine months ended
		30-Sep-14		30-Sep-13		30-Sep-14		30-Sep-13
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	$	196,398	$	333,423	$	778,082	$	392,221
	Less: preferred dividends	14,184		14,184		42,551		43,678
	Less: loss on redemption of preferred shares	—		—		—		9,135
	Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders	$	182,214	$	319,239	$	735,531	$	339,408
	Denominator:
	Weighted number of common shares outstanding – basic	49,514,980		53,671,245		50,461,749		56,176,260
	Share options and other (1)	1,166,345		953,906		1,104,385		1,041,301
	Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding – diluted	50,681,325		54,625,151		51,566,134		57,217,561
	Basic net income per share	$	3.68	$	5.95	$	14.58	$	6.04
	Diluted net income per share (1)	$	3.6	$	5.84	$	14.26	$	5.93
	Anti-dilutive common shares excluded from weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding - diluted (1)	134,470		140,516		135,681		114,195
	-1	Where the exercise price of share based awards is greater than the average market price of the common shares, the common shares are considered anti-dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding - diluted.

Noncontrolling_interests_Table

Noncontrolling interests (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]	'
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Table Text Block]	'
	The reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the noncontrolling interests in Lorenz Re for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
		For the nine months ended
		30-Sep-14			30-Sep-13
	Balance at beginning of period	$	56,627		$	—
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9,914			5,296
	Distribution to noncontrolling interests	(14,265		)	—
	Sale of shares to noncontrolling interests	—			47,193
	Balance at end of period	$	52,276		$	52,489

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]	'
Segment reporting table	'
	Segment Information
	For the three months ended September 30, 2014
		North			Global			Global			Catastrophe			Total			Life			Corporate			Total
		America			(Non-U.S.)			Specialty						Non-life			and Health			and Other
					P&C									segment			segment
	Gross premiums written	$	372		$	162		$	432		$	59		$	1,025		$	336		$	—		$	1,361
	Net premiums written	$	372		$	164		$	428		$	55		$	1,019		$	325		$	(1	)	$	1,343
	Decrease in unearned premiums	52			38			20			98			208			6			—			214
	Net premiums earned	$	424		$	202		$	448		$	153		$	1,227		$	331		$	(1	)	$	1,557
	Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	(247		)	(123		)	(279		)	(39		)	(688		)	(272		)	—			(960		)
	Acquisition costs	(106		)	(56		)	(105		)	(17		)	(284		)	(38		)	—			(322		)
	Technical result	$	71		$	23		$	64		$	97		$	255		$	21		$	(1	)	$	275
	Other (loss) income													(1		)	2			1			2
	Other operating expenses													(62		)	(17		)	(29		)	(108		)
	Underwriting result													$	192		$	6		n/a			$	169
	Net investment income																14			104			118
	Allocated underwriting result (1)																$	20		n/a			n/a
	Net realized and unrealized investment losses																			(34		)	(34		)
	Interest expense																			(12		)	(12		)
	Amortization of intangible assets																			(7		)	(7		)
	Net foreign exchange gains																			8			8
	Income tax expense																			(46		)	(46		)
	Interest in earnings of equity method investments																			5			5
	Net income																			n/a			$	201
	Loss ratio (2)	58.2		%	61.1		%	62.3		%	25.2		%	56.1		%
	Acquisition ratio (3)	24.9			27.6			23.5			11.7			23.1
	Technical ratio (4)	83.1		%	88.7		%	85.8		%	36.9		%	79.2		%
	Other operating expense ratio (5)													5
	Combined ratio (6)													84.2		%
	-1	Allocated underwriting result is defined as net premiums earned, other income or loss and allocated net investment income less life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other operating expenses.
	-2	Loss ratio is obtained by dividing losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
	-3	Acquisition ratio is obtained by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
	-4	Technical ratio is defined as the sum of the loss ratio and the acquisition ratio.
	-5	Other operating expense ratio is obtained by dividing other operating expenses by net premiums earned.
	-6	Combined ratio is defined as the sum of the technical ratio and the other operating expense ratio.
	Segment Information
	For the three months ended September 30, 2013
		North			Global			Global			Catastrophe			Total			Life			Corporate			Total
		America			(Non-U.S.)			Specialty						Non-life			and Health			and Other
					P&C									segment			segment
	Gross premiums written	$	409		$	157		$	396		$	79		$	1,041		$	235		$	5		$	1,281
	Net premiums written	$	408		$	157		$	389		$	72		$	1,026		$	234		$	5		$	1,265
	Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	17			38			(7		)	99			147			9			—			156
	Net premiums earned	$	425		$	195		$	382		$	171		$	1,173		$	243		$	5		$	1,421
	Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	(197		)	(90		)	(228		)	(42		)	(557		)	(195		)	1			(751		)
	Acquisition costs	(101		)	(50		)	(92		)	(16		)	(259		)	(24		)	—			(283		)
	Technical result	$	127		$	55		$	62		$	113		$	357		$	24		$	6		$	387
	Other income													2			3			—			5
	Other operating expenses													(62		)	(17		)	(29		)	(108		)
	Underwriting result													$	297		$	10		n/a			$	284
	Net investment income																15			107			122
	Allocated underwriting result																$	25		n/a			n/a
	Net realized and unrealized investment gains																			16			16
	Interest expense																			(12		)	(12		)
	Amortization of intangible assets																			(7		)	(7		)
	Net foreign exchange losses																			(1		)	(1		)
	Income tax expense																			(70		)	(70		)
	Interest in earnings of equity method investments																			6			6
	Net income																			n/a			$	338
	Loss ratio	46.3		%	46		%	59.8		%	24.5		%	47.5		%
	Acquisition ratio	23.9			25.7			24			9			22.1
	Technical ratio	70.2		%	71.7		%	83.8		%	33.5		%	69.6		%
	Other operating expense ratio													5.3
Combined ratio													74.9		%
Segment Information
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014
	North			Global			Global			Catastrophe			Total			Life			Corporate			Total
	America			(Non-U.S.)			Specialty						Non-life			and Health			and Other
				P&C									segment			segment
Gross premiums written	$	1,302		$	682		$	1,348		$	412		$	3,744		$	951		$	—		$	4,695
Net premiums written	$	1,291		$	672		$	1,250		$	370		$	3,583		$	918		$	(1	)	$	4,500
Increase in unearned premiums	(99		)	(104		)	(42		)	(78		)	(323		)	(14		)	—			(337		)
Net premiums earned	$	1,192		$	568		$	1,208		$	292		$	3,260		$	904		$	(1	)	$	4,163
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	(747		)	(319		)	(749		)	(38		)	(1,853		)	(740		)	—			(2,593		)
Acquisition costs	(299		)	(162		)	(283		)	(34		)	(778		)	(111		)	—			(889		)
Technical result	$	146		$	87		$	176		$	220		$	629		$	53		$	(1	)	$	681
Other income													1			6			5			12
Other operating expenses													(187		)	(52		)	(88		)	(327		)
Underwriting result													$	443		$	7		n/a			$	366
Net investment income																45			320			365
Allocated underwriting result																$	52		n/a			n/a
Net realized and unrealized investment gains																			273			273
Interest expense																			(36		)	(36		)
Amortization of intangible assets																			(21		)	(21		)
Net foreign exchange gains																			11			11
Income tax expense																			(186		)	(186		)
Interest in earnings of equity method investments																			16			16
Net income																			n/a			$	788
Loss ratio	62.6		%	56.2		%	62.1		%	12.9		%	56.8		%
Acquisition ratio	25.1			28.5			23.4			11.5			23.9
Technical ratio	87.7		%	84.7		%	85.5		%	24.4		%	80.7		%
Other operating expense ratio													5.7
Combined ratio													86.4		%
Segment Information
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013
	North			Global			Global			Catastrophe			Total			Life			Corporate			Total
	America			(Non-U.S.)			Specialty						Non-life			and Health			and Other
				P&C									segment			segment
Gross premiums written	$	1,228		$	690		$	1,253		$	478		$	3,649		$	722		$	8		$	4,379
Net premiums written	$	1,215		$	682		$	1,159		$	433		$	3,489		$	715		$	7		$	4,211
Increase in unearned premiums	(99		)	(152		)	(68		)	(97		)	(416		)	(17		)	(1		)	(434		)
Net premiums earned	$	1,116		$	530		$	1,091		$	336		$	3,073		$	698		$	6		$	3,777
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	(682		)	(263		)	(697		)	(81		)	(1,723		)	(558		)	2			(2,279		)
Acquisition costs	(253		)	(134		)	(257		)	(33		)	(677		)	(82		)	—			(759		)
Technical result	$	181		$	133		$	137		$	222		$	673		$	58		$	8		$	739
Other income													3			9			1			13
Other operating expenses													(189		)	(52		)	(128		)	(369		)
Underwriting result													$	487		$	15		n/a			$	383
Net investment income																45			325			370
Allocated underwriting result																$	60		n/a			n/a
Net realized and unrealized investment losses																			(260		)	(260		)
Interest expense																			(37		)	(37		)
Amortization of intangible assets																			(21		)	(21		)
Net foreign exchange losses																			(10		)	(10		)
Income tax expense																			(37		)	(37		)
Interest in earnings of equity method investments																			10			10
Net income																			n/a			$	398
Loss ratio	61.1		%	49.7		%	63.9		%	24.2		%	56.1		%
Acquisition ratio	22.7			25.2			23.6			9.7			22
Technical ratio	83.8		%	74.9		%	87.5		%	33.9		%	78.1		%
Other operating expense ratio													6.1
Combined ratio													84.2		%

Fair_Value_Details_Hierarchy_t

Fair Value (Details - Hierarchy table) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	$13,950,629	$13,593,303
Short-term investments	37,016	13,546
Equities	1,001,307	1,221,053
Other invested assets	104,554	135,139
Funds held - directly managed	478,968	561,306
Total	15,572,474	15,524,347
Short-term investments [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Funds held - directly managed	'	2,426
Derivative assets [Member] | Foreign exchange forward contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	8,456	1,249
Derivative assets [Member] | Foreign currency option contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	901	'
Derivative assets [Member] | Futures contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	3,723	41,031
Derivative assets [Member] | Total return swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	744	79
Derivative assets [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	'	2,147
Derivative assets [Member] | TBAs [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	'	2
Derivative liabilities [Member] | Foreign exchange forward contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-7,904	-8,648
Derivative liabilities [Member] | Foreign currency option contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-1,682	-535
Derivative liabilities [Member] | Futures contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-37	'
Derivative liabilities [Member] | Credit default swaps (protection purchased) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	'	-71
Derivative liabilities [Member] | Insurance-linked securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-375	-268
Derivative liabilities [Member] | Total return swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-1,859	-599
Derivative liabilities [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-10,200	-2,558
Derivative liabilities [Member] | TBAs [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-508	-1,331
Notes And Loan Receivables And Notes Securitization [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	45,396	41,446
Annuities and residuals [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	14,880	24,064
Private equities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	53,019	39,131
Other invested assets funds held directly managed [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Funds held - directly managed	14,553	15,165
Real estate investment trust [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	213,461	175,796
Energy [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	155,113	159,509
Insurance [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	127,740	144,020
Finance [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	97,577	138,707
Consumer noncyclical [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	91,334	108,663
Communications [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	74,585	72,991
Technology [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	55,166	61,520
Industrials [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	43,930	47,677
Consumer cyclical [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	36,252	45,915
Utilities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	32,012	37,151
Other equities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	17,379	19,993
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	56,758	209,111
US Government and government sponsored enterpises [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	2,184,417	1,623,859
Funds held - directly managed	149,273	157,296
US states, territories and municipalities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	320,498	124,587
Funds held - directly managed	311	286
Non US sovereign government supranational and government related [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	2,209,335	2,353,699
Funds held - directly managed	123,210	137,186
Corporate [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	5,706,486	6,048,663
Funds held - directly managed	191,621	248,947
Asset-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	1,147,784	1,138,231
Residential mortgage-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	2,331,870	2,268,517
Other mortgage-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	50,239	35,747
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	0	0
Short-term investments	0	0
Equities	956,074	1,034,130
Other invested assets	3,686	41,031
Funds held - directly managed	0	0
Total	959,760	1,075,161
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Short-term investments [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Funds held - directly managed	'	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative assets [Member] | Foreign exchange forward contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative assets [Member] | Foreign currency option contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	'
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative assets [Member] | Futures contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	3,723	41,031
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative assets [Member] | Total return swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative assets [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	'	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative assets [Member] | TBAs [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	'	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Foreign exchange forward contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Foreign currency option contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Futures contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-37	'
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Credit default swaps (protection purchased) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	'	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Insurance-linked securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Total return swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | TBAs [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Notes And Loan Receivables And Notes Securitization [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Annuities and residuals [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Private equities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Other invested assets funds held directly managed [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Funds held - directly managed	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Real estate investment trust [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	213,461	175,796
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Energy [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	155,113	159,509
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Insurance [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	127,740	144,020
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Finance [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	70,010	108,944
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Consumer noncyclical [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	91,334	108,663
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Communications [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	72,619	70,792
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Technology [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	47,848	53,768
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Industrials [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	43,930	47,677
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Consumer cyclical [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	36,252	45,915
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Utilities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	32,012	37,151
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Other equities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	17,372	19,993
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Mutual funds and exchange traded funds [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	48,383	61,902
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | US Government and government sponsored enterpises [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	0	0
Funds held - directly managed	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | US states, territories and municipalities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	0	0
Funds held - directly managed	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Non US sovereign government supranational and government related [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	0	0
Funds held - directly managed	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Corporate [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	0	0
Funds held - directly managed	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Asset-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Residential mortgage-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Other mortgage-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	13,361,711	13,038,346
Short-term investments	37,016	13,546
Equities	8,431	148,878
Other invested assets	-10,937	-9,745
Funds held - directly managed	464,104	545,855
Total	13,860,325	13,736,880
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Short-term investments [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Funds held - directly managed	'	2,426
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative assets [Member] | Foreign exchange forward contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	8,456	1,249
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative assets [Member] | Foreign currency option contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	901	'
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative assets [Member] | Futures contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative assets [Member] | Total return swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative assets [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	'	2,147
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative assets [Member] | TBAs [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	'	2
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Foreign exchange forward contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-7,904	-8,648
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Foreign currency option contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-1,682	-535
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Futures contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	'
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Credit default swaps (protection purchased) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	'	-71
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Insurance-linked securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Total return swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-10,200	-2,558
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Derivative liabilities [Member] | TBAs [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-508	-1,331
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Notes And Loan Receivables And Notes Securitization [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Annuities and residuals [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Private equities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Other invested assets funds held directly managed [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Funds held - directly managed	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Real estate investment trust [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Energy [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Insurance [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Finance [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	8,431	9,556
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Consumer noncyclical [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Communications [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Technology [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Industrials [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Consumer cyclical [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Utilities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Other equities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Mutual funds and exchange traded funds [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	139,322
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | US Government and government sponsored enterpises [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	2,184,417	1,623,859
Funds held - directly managed	149,273	157,296
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | US states, territories and municipalities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	189,755	16,207
Funds held - directly managed	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Non US sovereign government supranational and government related [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	2,209,335	2,353,699
Funds held - directly managed	123,210	137,186
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Corporate [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	5,706,486	6,048,663
Funds held - directly managed	191,621	248,947
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Asset-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	689,609	691,654
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Residential mortgage-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	2,331,870	2,268,517
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Other mortgage-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	50,239	35,747
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	588,918	554,957
Short-term investments	0	0
Equities	36,802	38,045
Other invested assets	111,805	103,853
Funds held - directly managed	14,864	15,451
Total	752,389	712,306
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Short-term investments [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Funds held - directly managed	'	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative assets [Member] | Foreign exchange forward contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative assets [Member] | Foreign currency option contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	'
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative assets [Member] | Futures contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative assets [Member] | Total return swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	744	79
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative assets [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	'	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative assets [Member] | TBAs [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	'	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Foreign exchange forward contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Foreign currency option contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Futures contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	'
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Credit default swaps (protection purchased) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	'	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Insurance-linked securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-375	-268
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Total return swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	-1,859	-599
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative liabilities [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Derivative liabilities [Member] | TBAs [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Notes And Loan Receivables And Notes Securitization [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	45,396	41,446
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Annuities and residuals [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	14,880	24,064
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Private equities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets	53,019	39,131
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Other invested assets funds held directly managed [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Funds held - directly managed	14,553	15,165
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Real estate investment trust [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Energy [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Insurance [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Finance [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	19,136	20,207
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Consumer noncyclical [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Communications [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	1,966	2,199
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Technology [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	7,318	7,752
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Industrials [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Consumer cyclical [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Utilities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Other equities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	7	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Mutual funds and exchange traded funds [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	8,375	7,887
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | US Government and government sponsored enterpises [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	0	0
Funds held - directly managed	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | US states, territories and municipalities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	130,743	108,380
Funds held - directly managed	311	286
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Non US sovereign government supranational and government related [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	0	0
Funds held - directly managed	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Corporate [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	0	0
Funds held - directly managed	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Asset-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	458,175	446,577
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Residential mortgage-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Other mortgage-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	$0	$0

Fair_Value_Details_narrative_i

Fair Value (Details - narrative items) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value - Other Details [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$1,519,287,000	$1,496,485,000	$1,551,062,000	$1,121,705,000
Accrued investment income	171,050,000	185,717,000	'	'
Fair Value Assets Level 2 To Level 1 Transfers Amount	0	'	0	'
Fair Value Assets Level 2 To Level 1 Transfers Amount 2	0	'	0	'
Funds held directly managed [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value - Other Details [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	53,100,000	84,800,000	'	'
Accrued investment income	6,300,000	6,700,000	'	'
Other net assets	112,000,000	133,000,000	'	'
Trading securities [Member] | Other invested assets [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value - Other Details [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Carrying amount of other invested assets not at fair value	$194,700,000	$185,800,000	'	'

Fair_Value_Details_Level_3_rol

Fair Value (Details - Level 3 rollforward) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	$776,170,000	$889,704,000		$712,306,000		$790,421,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-7,448,000	18,098,000		11,407,000		-11,964,000
Purchases	46,591,000	150,473,000		205,364,000		344,357,000
Settlements	-62,924,000	-70,993,000		-176,688,000		-135,532,000
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	752,389,000	987,282,000		752,389,000		987,282,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-7,300,000	11,753,000		13,225,000		-12,850,000
Fixed maturities [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	612,723,000	745,347,000		554,957,000		657,273,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-803,000	12,962,000		15,186,000		-6,226,000
Purchases	16,780,000	148,148,000		152,758,000		303,313,000
Settlements	-39,782,000	-63,942,000		-133,983,000		-111,845,000
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	588,918,000	842,515,000		588,918,000		842,515,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-656,000	5,119,000		15,476,000		-13,886,000
Fixed maturities [Member] | US states, territories and municipalities [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	123,617,000	219,163,000		108,380,000		233,235,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	3,636,000	8,431,000		10,488,000		-5,427,000
Purchases	5,695,000	61,706,000		14,220,000		61,706,000
Settlements	-2,205,000	-165,000		-2,345,000		-379,000
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	130,743,000	289,135,000		130,743,000		289,135,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	3,747,000	8,431,000		10,483,000		-5,427,000
Fixed maturities [Member] | Corporate [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	'	99,896,000		'		100,904,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	'	-269,000		'		-1,277,000
Purchases	'	0		'		0
Settlements	'	0		'		0
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	'	0		'		0
Balance, end of year	'	99,627,000		'		99,627,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	'	-269,000		'		-1,277,000
Fixed maturities [Member] | Asset-backed securities [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	489,106,000	426,288,000		446,577,000		323,134,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-4,439,000	4,800,000		4,698,000		478,000
Purchases	11,085,000	86,442,000		138,538,000		241,607,000
Settlements	-37,577,000	-63,777,000	[1]	-131,638,000		-111,466,000	[2]
Sales	'	-13,700,000		'		-13,700,000
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	458,175,000	453,753,000		458,175,000		453,753,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-4,403,000	-3,043,000		4,993,000		-7,182,000
Equities [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	37,529,000	30,601,000		38,045,000		27,728,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-727,000	2,651,000		-1,251,000		3,484,000
Purchases	0	0		8,000		2,040,000
Settlements	0	0		0		0
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	36,802,000	33,252,000		36,802,000		33,252,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-727,000	2,651,000		-1,251,000		3,484,000
Equities [Member] | Finance [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	19,564,000	13,000,000		20,207,000		13,477,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-428,000	1,285,000		-1,071,000		808,000
Purchases	0	0		0		0
Settlements	0	0		0		0
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	19,136,000	14,285,000		19,136,000		14,285,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-428,000	1,285,000		-1,071,000		808,000
Equities [Member] | Communications [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	2,067,000	2,040,000		2,199,000		0
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-101,000	103,000		-233,000		103,000
Purchases	0	0		0		2,040,000
Settlements	0	0		0		0
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	1,966,000	2,143,000		1,966,000		2,143,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-101,000	103,000		-233,000		103,000
Equities [Member] | Technology [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	7,645,000	8,012,000		7,752,000		6,987,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-327,000	1,138,000		-434,000		2,163,000
Purchases	0	0		0		0
Settlements	0	0		0		0
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	7,318,000	9,150,000		7,318,000		9,150,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-327,000	1,138,000		-434,000		2,163,000
Equities [Member] | Other equities [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	7,000	'		0		'
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	0	'		-1,000		'
Purchases	0	'		8,000		'
Settlements	0	'		0		'
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	'		0		'
Balance, end of year	7,000	'		7,000		'
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	0	'		-1,000		'
Equities [Member] | Mutual funds and exchange traded funds [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	8,246,000	7,549,000		7,887,000		7,264,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	129,000	125,000		488,000		410,000
Purchases	0	0		0		0
Settlements	0	0		0		0
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	8,375,000	7,674,000		8,375,000		7,674,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	129,000	125,000		488,000		410,000
Other invested assets [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	109,813,000	98,212,000		103,853,000		87,099,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-4,457,000	1,479,000		-1,466,000		-7,522,000
Purchases	29,591,000	2,325,000		52,123,000		39,004,000
Settlements	-23,142,000	-6,365,000		-42,705,000		-22,930,000
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	111,805,000	95,651,000		111,805,000		95,651,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-4,456,000	2,977,000		62,000		-1,812,000
Other invested assets [Member] | Derivatives, net [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	-852,000	2,333,000		-788,000		3,911,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-1,255,000	-1,885,000		-391,000		-6,084,000
Purchases	57,000	0		-871,000	[3]	121,000	[4]
Settlements	560,000	-1,395,000	[1]	560,000		1,105,000	[2]
Sales	'	-1,400,000		'		-1,400,000
Issuances	'	'		900,000		800,000
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	-1,490,000	-947,000		-1,490,000		-947,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-1,255,000	-140,000		-391,000		-349,000
Other invested assets [Member] | Notes And Loan Receivables And Notes Securitization [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	38,603,000	44,224,000		41,446,000		34,902,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-1,379,000	3,250,000		2,188,000		1,867,000
Purchases	29,286,000	1,248,000		32,202,000		14,598,000
Settlements	-21,114,000	-941,000		-30,440,000		-3,586,000
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	45,396,000	47,781,000		45,396,000		47,781,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-1,379,000	3,250,000		3,707,000		1,867,000
Other invested assets [Member] | Annuities and residuals [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	17,134,000	30,555,000		24,064,000		46,882,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-475,000	413,000		-84,000		506,000
Purchases	0	0		0		0
Settlements	-1,779,000	-4,029,000		-9,100,000		-20,449,000	[2]
Sales	'	'		'		-6,300,000
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	14,880,000	26,939,000		14,880,000		26,939,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-474,000	166,000		-44,000		481,000
Other invested assets [Member] | Private equities [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	54,928,000	21,100,000		39,131,000		1,404,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-1,348,000	-299,000		-3,179,000		-3,811,000
Purchases	248,000	1,077,000		20,792,000		24,285,000
Settlements	-809,000	0		-3,725,000		0
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	53,019,000	21,878,000		53,019,000		21,878,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-1,348,000	-299,000		-3,210,000		-3,811,000
Funds Held - Directly Managed investment [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	16,105,000	15,544,000		15,451,000		18,321,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-1,461,000	1,006,000		-1,062,000		-1,700,000
Purchases	220,000	0		475,000		0
Settlements	0	-686,000		0		-757,000
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	14,864,000	15,864,000		14,864,000		15,864,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-1,461,000	1,006,000		-1,062,000		-636,000
Funds Held - Directly Managed investment [Member] | Other invested assets funds held directly managed [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	15,800,000	15,207,000		15,165,000		17,976,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	-1,467,000	1,045,000		-1,087,000		-1,653,000
Purchases	220,000	0		475,000		0
Settlements	0	-686,000		0		-757,000
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	14,553,000	15,566,000		14,553,000		15,566,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	-1,467,000	1,045,000		-1,087,000		-589,000
Funds Held - Directly Managed investment [Member] | US states, territories and municipalities [Member]	'	'		'		'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'		'		'
Balance, beginning of year	305,000	337,000		286,000		345,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	6,000	-39,000		25,000		-47,000
Purchases	0	0		0		0
Settlements	0	0		0		0
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0	0		0		0
Balance, end of year	311,000	298,000		311,000		298,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	$6,000	($39,000)		$25,000		($47,000)
[1]	Settlements and sales of asset-backed securities and derivatives include sales of $13.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
[2]	Settlements and sales of asset-backed securities, derivatives and annuities and residuals include sales of $13.7 million, $1.4 million and $6.3 million, respectively
[3]	Purchases and issuances of derivatives include issuances of $0.9 million.
[4]	Purchases and issuances of derivatives include issuances of $0.8 million.

Fair_Value_Details_Valuation_T

Fair Value (Details - Valuation Technique and Inputs) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	13,950,629	13,593,303
Equities	1,001,307	1,221,053
Other invested assets carried at fair value	104,554	135,139
Funds held directly managed investments carried at fair value	478,968	561,306
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	588,918	554,957
Equities	36,802	38,045
Other invested assets carried at fair value	111,805	103,853
Funds held directly managed investments carried at fair value	14,864	15,451
US states, territories and municipalities [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	130,743	108,380
US states, territories and municipalities [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	2.40%	2.90%
US states, territories and municipalities [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	10.00%	9.90%
US states, territories and municipalities [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	4.70%	5.30%
Asset-backed securities - interest only [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	'	21
Asset-backed securities - interest only [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	'	5.50%
Asset-backed securities - interest only [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	'	10.70%
Asset-backed securities - interest only [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	'	8.80%
Asset-backed securities - other [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Fixed maturities	458,175	446,556
Asset-backed securities - other [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	4.00%	4.00%
Asset-backed securities - other [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	12.00%	12.20%
Asset-backed securities - other [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	6.90%	7.10%
Finance [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	13,582	15,483
Finance [Member] | Profitability Analysis [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	5,554	4,724
Finance [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net income multiple	19	14.6
Tangible book value multiple	1.3	1.1
Liquidity discount	25.00%	25.00%
Comparable return	-1.40%	8.50%
Finance [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Profitability Analysis [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Projected Return On Equity	14.00%	14.00%
Finance [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net income multiple	19	14.6
Tangible book value multiple	1.3	1.1
Liquidity discount	25.00%	25.00%
Comparable return	-1.40%	8.50%
Finance [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Profitability Analysis [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Projected Return On Equity	14.00%	14.00%
Finance [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net income multiple	19	14.6
Tangible book value multiple	1.3	1.1
Liquidity discount	25.00%	25.00%
Comparable return	-1.40%	8.50%
Finance [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Profitability Analysis [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Projected Return On Equity	14.00%	14.00%
Communications [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	1,966	2,199
Communications [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Adjusted earnings multiple	9.4	9.4
Comparable return	-10.60%	0.00%
Communications [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Adjusted earnings multiple	9.4	9.4
Comparable return	-10.60%	0.00%
Communications [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Adjusted earnings multiple	9.4	9.4
Comparable return	-10.60%	0.00%
Technology [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Equities	7,318	7,752
Technology [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Adjusted earnings multiple	8.3	4.4
Gross revenue/fair value	1.4	0.9
Technology [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Adjusted earnings multiple	8.3	4.4
Gross revenue/fair value	1.4	0.9
Technology [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Adjusted earnings multiple	8.3	4.4
Gross revenue/fair value	1.4	0.9
Total return swaps [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets carried at fair value	-1,115	-520
Total return swaps [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	3.50%	2.80%
Total return swaps [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	18.50%	18.90%
Total return swaps [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	14.30%	17.00%
Notes and loan receivables [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets carried at fair value	14,879	21,280
Notes and loan receivables [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	17.50%	17.50%
Gross revenue/fair value	1.3	1.5
Notes and loan receivables [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	17.50%	17.50%
Gross revenue/fair value	1.6	1.5
Notes and loan receivables [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	17.50%	17.50%
Gross revenue/fair value	1.6	1.5
Notes and Loans Receivable 2 [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets carried at fair value	9,589	'
Notes and Loans Receivable 2 [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	6.70%	'
Notes and Loans Receivable 2 [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	6.70%	'
Notes and Loans Receivable 2 [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	6.70%	'
Notes securitization [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets carried at fair value	20,928	20,166
Notes securitization [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	3.50%	6.20%
Notes securitization [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	6.60%	6.20%
Notes securitization [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	6.30%	6.20%
Annuities and residuals [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets carried at fair value	14,880	24,064
Annuities and residuals [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	5.30%	4.00%
Prepayment speed	0.00%	0.00%
Constant default rate	0.30%	0.30%
Annuities and residuals [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	8.10%	7.90%
Prepayment speed	15.00%	15.00%
Constant default rate	23.00%	35.00%
Annuities and residuals [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	7.00%	5.80%
Prepayment speed	4.80%	6.40%
Constant default rate	7.60%	12.40%
Private Equity-Direct [Member] | Discounted Cash Flow And Weighted Market Comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets carried at fair value	9,582	11,742
Private Equity-Direct [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted Cash Flow And Weighted Market Comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net income multiple	8.3	8.3
Tangible book value multiple	1.6	1.6
Recoverability of intangible assets	0	0
Private Equity-Direct [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted Cash Flow And Weighted Market Comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net income multiple	8.3	8.3
Tangible book value multiple	1.6	1.6
Recoverability of intangible assets	0	0
Private Equity-Direct [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted Cash Flow And Weighted Market Comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net income multiple	8.3	8.3
Tangible book value multiple	1.6	1.6
Recoverability of intangible assets	0	0
Private equity funds [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets carried at fair value	14,422	8,993
Private equity funds [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net asset value, as reported	100.00%	100.00%
Market adjustments	-4.60%	1.80%
Private equity funds [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net asset value, as reported	100.00%	100.00%
Market adjustments	1.90%	9.80%
Private equity funds [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net asset value, as reported	100.00%	100.00%
Market adjustments	-2.30%	8.30%
Private Equity - Other [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Other invested assets carried at fair value	29,015	18,396
Private Equity - Other [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	'	3.80%
Effective Yield	5.80%	'
Private Equity - Other [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	'	3.80%
Effective Yield	5.80%	'
Private Equity - Other [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Credit spreads	'	3.80%
Effective Yield	5.80%	'
Other invested assets [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Funds held directly managed investments carried at fair value	14,553	15,165
Other invested assets [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net asset value, as reported	100.00%	100.00%
Market adjustments	-12.90%	-22.90%
Other invested assets [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net asset value, as reported	100.00%	100.00%
Market adjustments	0.00%	0.00%
Other invested assets [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net asset value, as reported	100.00%	100.00%
Market adjustments	-12.10%	-15.50%

Fair_Value_Details_Change_in_f

Fair Value (Details - Change in fair value option table) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Change in unrealized gain/loss	($110,667)	$11,482	$154,246	($492,077)
Fixed maturities and short term investments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Change in unrealized gain/loss	-75,537	10,259	167,696	-457,168
Equities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Change in unrealized gain/loss	-31,093	-891	-14,447	-8,540
Other invested assets [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Change in unrealized gain/loss	-3,497	3,021	60	-4,047
Funds Held - Directly Managed investment [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Change in unrealized gain/loss	($540)	($907)	$937	($22,322)

Fair_Value_Fair_Value_Details_

Fair Value Fair Value (Details - Fair Value of Liabilities) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]	'		'
Debt related to senior notes	$750,000,000		$750,000,000
Debt related to capital efficient notes	70,989,000		70,989,000
Senior Notes Debt [Member] | Notes Issued By Partner Re Finance A LLC [Member]	'		'
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]	'		'
Face amount of debt instrument	250,000,000		250,000,000
Senior Notes Debt [Member] | Notes Issued By Partner Re Finance B LLC [Member]	'		'
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]	'		'
Face amount of debt instrument	500,000,000		500,000,000
Capital efficient notes [Member] | Notes Issued By Partner Re Finance II Inc [Member]	'		'
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]	'		'
Face amount of debt instrument	63,000,000		63,000,000
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Senior Notes Debt [Member]	'		'
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]	'		'
Debt related to senior notes	868,702,000	[1]	844,331,000	[1]
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Capital efficient notes [Member]	'		'
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]	'		'
Debt related to capital efficient notes	63,231,000	[2]	61,094,000	[2]
Carrying value [Member] | Senior Notes Debt [Member]	'		'
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]	'		'
Debt related to senior notes	750,000,000	[1]	750,000,000	[1]
Carrying value [Member] | Capital efficient notes [Member]	'		'
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]	'		'
Debt related to capital efficient notes	$63,384,000	[2]	$63,384,000	[2]
[1]	PartnerRe Finance A LLC and PartnerRe Finance B LLC, the issuers of the Senior Notes, do not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $750 million in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
[2]	PartnerRe Finance II Inc., the issuer of the CENts, does not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $71 million in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Derivatives_Details_Balance_Sh

Derivatives (Details - Balance Sheet) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset	$13,824	[1]	$44,508	[1]
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability	-22,565	[1]	-14,010	[1]
Fair value net	-8,741		30,498
Foreign exchange forward contracts [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset	8,456		1,249
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability	-7,904		-8,648
Net notional exposure	2,441,173		1,957,409
Fair value net	552		-7,399
Foreign currency option contracts [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset	901		0
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability	-1,682		-535
Net notional exposure	86,692		87,620
Fair value net	-781		-535
Futures contracts [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset	3,723		41,031
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability	-37		0
Net notional exposure	2,677,157		3,266,004
Fair value net	3,686		41,031
Credit default swaps (protection purchased) [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset	'		0
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability	'		-71
Net notional exposure	'		14,000
Fair value net	'		-71
Insurance-linked securities [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset	0	[2]	0	[2]
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability	-375	[2]	-268	[2]
Net notional exposure	181,238	[2]	168,724	[2]
Fair value net	-375	[2]	-268	[2]
Total return swaps [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset	744		79
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability	-1,859		-599
Net notional exposure	42,569		31,740
Fair value net	-1,115		-520
Interest rate swaps [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset	0	[3]	2,147	[3]
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability	-10,200	[3]	-2,558	[3]
Net notional exposure	201,659	[3]	202,859	[3]
Fair value net	-10,200	[3]	-411	[3]
TBAs [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset	0		2
Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability	-508		-1,331
Net notional exposure	176,015		183,835
Fair value net	($508)		($1,329)
[1]	Amounts include all derivative instruments, irrespective of whether there is a legally enforceable master netting arrangement in place.
[2]	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, insurance-linked securities include a longevity swap for which the notional amount is not reflective of the overall potential exposure of the swap. As such, the Company has included the probable maximum loss under the swap within the net notional exposure as an approximation of the notional amount.
[3]	The Company enters into interest rate swaps to mitigate notional exposures on certain total return swaps and certain fixed maturities. Only the notional value of interest rate swaps on fixed maturities is presented separately in the table.

Derivatives_Details_Income_Sta

Derivatives (Details - Income Statement) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	$23,850	($28,788)	($16,359)	$5,539
Derivates not designated as hedges [Member] | Included in net foreign exchange gains and losses [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	20,000	-782	30,040	-41,096
Derivates not designated as hedges [Member] | Included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	3,850	-28,006	-46,399	46,635
Derivates not designated as hedges [Member] | Foreign exchange forward contracts [Member] | Included in net foreign exchange gains and losses [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	20,721	17	29,613	-36,457
Derivates not designated as hedges [Member] | Foreign currency option contracts [Member] | Included in net foreign exchange gains and losses [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	-721	-799	427	-4,639
Derivates not designated as hedges [Member] | Futures contracts [Member] | Included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	5,895	-30,233	-44,606	55,143
Derivates not designated as hedges [Member] | Credit default swaps (protection purchased) [Member] | Included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	0	-6	-3	-126
Derivates not designated as hedges [Member] | Credit default swaps (assumed risks) [Member] | Included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	0	7	0	122
Derivates not designated as hedges [Member] | Insurance-linked securities [Member] | Included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	-50	-110	206	-660
Derivates not designated as hedges [Member] | Total return swaps [Member] | Included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	-1,213	-1,762	-595	-5,421
Derivates not designated as hedges [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member] | Included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	-1,055	240	-9,788	3,416
Derivates not designated as hedges [Member] | TBAs [Member] | Included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	$273	$3,858	$8,387	($5,839)

Derivatives_Details_narrative_

Derivatives (Details - narrative items)	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Minimum [Member]	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Credit derivative term	'0 years
Maximum [Member]	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Credit derivative term	'5 years
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Derivative number of instruments held	0

Offsetting_Details

Offsetting (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Offsetting [Abstract]	'		'
Gross amounts of recognized, asset	$13,824	[1]	$44,508	[1]
Gross amount offset in the balance sheet	0		0
Net amounts of asset/ liabilities presented in the balance sheet, asset	13,824		44,508
Gross amounts not offset in the balance sheet, financial instruments, asset	-344		-2
Gross amounts not offset in the balance sheet, cash collateral received/ pledged	-6,964		0
Net amount, asset	6,516		44,506
Gross amounts of recognized, liability	-22,565	[1]	-14,010	[1]
Gross amount offset in the balance sheet	0		0
Net amounts presented in the balance sheet, liability	-22,565		-14,010
Gross amounts not offset in the balance sheet, financial instruments, liability	344		2
Gross amounts not offset in the balance sheet, cash collateral received	1,380		4,341
Net amount, liability	($20,841)		($9,667)
[1]	Amounts include all derivative instruments, irrespective of whether there is a legally enforceable master netting arrangement in place.

Net_Income_Per_Share_Details

Net Income Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Numerator [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	$196,398		$333,423		$778,082		$392,221
Dividends on preferred shares	14,184		14,184		42,551		43,678
Loss on redemption of preferred shares	0		0		0		9,135
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders	$182,214		$319,239		$735,531		$339,408
Denominator [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	49,514,980		53,671,245		50,461,749		56,176,260
Share options and other (1)	1,166,345		953,906		1,104,385		1,041,301
Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding	50,681,325		54,625,151		51,566,134		57,217,561
Basic net income	$3.68		$5.95		$14.58		$6.04
Diluted net income	$3.60	[1]	$5.84	[1]	$14.26	[1]	$5.93	[1]
Anti-dilutive common shares excluded from weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding - diluted (1)	134,470		140,516		135,681		114,195
[1]	Where the exercise price of share based awards is greater than the average market price of the common shares, the common shares are considered anti-dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding - diluted.

Noncontrolling_interests_Detai

Noncontrolling interests (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	$23,207,343	'	$23,207,343	'	$23,038,295
Total liabilities	16,141,087	'	16,141,087	'	16,272,136
Movement In Minority Interest [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	'	'	56,627	'	'
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,920	4,112	9,914	5,296	'
Balance at end of period	52,276	'	52,276	'	'
Lorenz Re [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	101,800	'	101,800	'	99,600
Total liabilities	19,400	'	19,400	'	11,100
Movement In Minority Interest [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	'	'	56,627	0	'
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'	9,914	5,296	'
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	'	'	-14,265	0	'
Sale of shares to noncontrolling interests	'	'	0	47,193	'
Balance at end of period	$52,276	$52,489	$52,276	$52,489	'

Segment_Information_Details

Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Gross premiums written	$1,361,280,000		$1,281,477,000		$4,695,327,000		$4,378,944,000
Net premiums written	1,342,690,000		1,264,775,000		4,499,849,000		4,210,525,000
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	213,924,000		156,694,000		-336,384,000		-433,740,000
Net premiums earned	1,556,614,000		1,421,469,000		4,163,465,000		3,776,785,000
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	-960,000,000		-751,000,000		-2,593,000,000		-2,279,000,000
Acquisition costs	-321,756,000		-282,948,000		-888,937,000		-758,890,000
Technical result	275,000,000		387,000,000		681,000,000		739,000,000
Other (loss) income	2,223,000		5,399,000		11,892,000		13,205,000
Other operating expenses	-108,615,000		-108,467,000		-327,149,000		-369,340,000
Underwriting result	169,000,000		284,000,000		366,000,000		383,000,000
Net investment income	118,176,000		121,811,000		365,010,000		370,017,000
Net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains	-34,420,000		16,118,000		273,468,000		-260,154,000
Interest expense	-12,241,000		-12,233,000		-36,719,000		-36,694,000
Amortization of intangible assets	-7,003,000		-7,045,000		-21,007,000		-21,136,000
Net foreign exchange gains (losses)	8,206,000		-1,279,000		10,900,000		-9,822,000
Income tax expense	-45,617,000		-70,232,000		-186,363,000		-37,338,000
Interest in earnings of equity method investments	5,294,000		5,941,000		16,283,000		9,677,000
Net income	201,318,000		337,535,000		787,996,000		397,517,000
Non Life [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Gross premiums written	1,025,000,000		1,041,000,000		3,744,000,000		3,649,000,000
Net premiums written	1,019,000,000		1,026,000,000		3,583,000,000		3,489,000,000
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	208,000,000		147,000,000		-323,000,000		-416,000,000
Net premiums earned	1,227,000,000		1,173,000,000		3,260,000,000		3,073,000,000
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	-688,000,000		-557,000,000		-1,853,000,000		-1,723,000,000
Acquisition costs	-284,000,000		-259,000,000		-778,000,000		-677,000,000
Technical result	255,000,000		357,000,000		629,000,000		673,000,000
Other (loss) income	-1,000,000		2,000,000		1,000,000		3,000,000
Other operating expenses	-62,000,000		-62,000,000		-187,000,000		-189,000,000
Underwriting result	192,000,000		297,000,000		443,000,000		487,000,000
Reinsurance Ratios [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Loss ratio	56.10%	[1]	47.50%	[1]	56.80%	[1]	56.10%	[1]
Acquisition ratio	23.10%	[2]	22.10%	[2]	23.90%	[2]	22.00%	[2]
Technical ratio	79.20%		69.60%	[3]	80.70%		78.10%	[3]
Other operating expense ratio	5.00%	[4]	5.30%	[4]	5.70%	[4]	6.10%	[4]
Combined ratio	84.20%		74.90%	[5]	86.40%		84.20%	[5]
Non Life [Member] | North America Segment [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Gross premiums written	372,000,000		409,000,000		1,302,000,000		1,228,000,000
Net premiums written	372,000,000		408,000,000		1,291,000,000		1,215,000,000
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	52,000,000		17,000,000		-99,000,000		-99,000,000
Net premiums earned	424,000,000		425,000,000		1,192,000,000		1,116,000,000
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	-247,000,000		-197,000,000		-747,000,000		-682,000,000
Acquisition costs	-106,000,000		-101,000,000		-299,000,000		-253,000,000
Technical result	71,000,000		127,000,000		146,000,000		181,000,000
Reinsurance Ratios [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Loss ratio	58.20%	[1]	46.30%	[1]	62.60%	[1]	61.10%	[1]
Acquisition ratio	24.90%	[2]	23.90%	[2]	25.10%	[2]	22.70%	[2]
Technical ratio	83.10%		70.20%	[3]	87.70%		83.80%	[3]
Non Life [Member] | Global (Non-US) P&C [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Gross premiums written	162,000,000		157,000,000		682,000,000		690,000,000
Net premiums written	164,000,000		157,000,000		672,000,000		682,000,000
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	38,000,000		38,000,000		-104,000,000		-152,000,000
Net premiums earned	202,000,000		195,000,000		568,000,000		530,000,000
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	-123,000,000		-90,000,000		-319,000,000		-263,000,000
Acquisition costs	-56,000,000		-50,000,000		-162,000,000		-134,000,000
Technical result	23,000,000		55,000,000		87,000,000		133,000,000
Reinsurance Ratios [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Loss ratio	61.10%	[1]	46.00%	[1]	56.20%	[1]	49.70%	[1]
Acquisition ratio	27.60%	[2]	25.70%	[2]	28.50%	[2]	25.20%	[2]
Technical ratio	88.70%		71.70%	[3]	84.70%		74.90%	[3]
Non Life [Member] | Global Specialty [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Gross premiums written	432,000,000		396,000,000		1,348,000,000		1,253,000,000
Net premiums written	428,000,000		389,000,000		1,250,000,000		1,159,000,000
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	20,000,000		-7,000,000		-42,000,000		-68,000,000
Net premiums earned	448,000,000		382,000,000		1,208,000,000		1,091,000,000
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	-279,000,000		-228,000,000		-749,000,000		-697,000,000
Acquisition costs	-105,000,000		-92,000,000		-283,000,000		-257,000,000
Technical result	64,000,000		62,000,000		176,000,000		137,000,000
Reinsurance Ratios [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Loss ratio	62.30%	[1]	59.80%	[1]	62.10%	[1]	63.90%	[1]
Acquisition ratio	23.50%	[2]	24.00%	[2]	23.40%	[2]	23.60%	[2]
Technical ratio	85.80%		83.80%	[3]	85.50%		87.50%	[3]
Non Life [Member] | Catastrophe Segment [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Gross premiums written	59,000,000		79,000,000		412,000,000		478,000,000
Net premiums written	55,000,000		72,000,000		370,000,000		433,000,000
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	98,000,000		99,000,000		-78,000,000		-97,000,000
Net premiums earned	153,000,000		171,000,000		292,000,000		336,000,000
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	-39,000,000		-42,000,000		-38,000,000		-81,000,000
Acquisition costs	-17,000,000		-16,000,000		-34,000,000		-33,000,000
Technical result	97,000,000		113,000,000		220,000,000		222,000,000
Reinsurance Ratios [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Loss ratio	25.20%	[1]	24.50%	[1]	12.90%	[1]	24.20%	[1]
Acquisition ratio	11.70%	[2]	9.00%	[2]	11.50%	[2]	9.70%	[2]
Technical ratio	36.90%		33.50%	[3]	24.40%		33.90%	[3]
Life and Health [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Gross premiums written	336,000,000		235,000,000		951,000,000		722,000,000
Net premiums written	325,000,000		234,000,000		918,000,000		715,000,000
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	6,000,000		9,000,000		-14,000,000		-17,000,000
Net premiums earned	331,000,000		243,000,000		904,000,000		698,000,000
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	-272,000,000		-195,000,000		-740,000,000		-558,000,000
Acquisition costs	-38,000,000		-24,000,000		-111,000,000		-82,000,000
Technical result	21,000,000		24,000,000		53,000,000		58,000,000
Other (loss) income	2,000,000		3,000,000		6,000,000		9,000,000
Other operating expenses	-17,000,000		-17,000,000		-52,000,000		-52,000,000
Underwriting result	6,000,000		10,000,000		7,000,000		15,000,000
Net investment income	14,000,000		15,000,000		45,000,000		45,000,000
Allocated underwriting result	20,000,000	[6]	25,000,000	[6]	52,000,000		60,000,000	[6]
Corporate and Other [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Gross premiums written	0		5,000,000		0		8,000,000
Net premiums written	-1,000,000		5,000,000		-1,000,000		7,000,000
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	0		0		0		-1,000,000
Net premiums earned	-1,000,000		5,000,000		-1,000,000		6,000,000
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	0		1,000,000		0		2,000,000
Acquisition costs	0		0		0		0
Technical result	-1,000,000		6,000,000		-1,000,000		8,000,000
Other (loss) income	1,000,000		0		5,000,000		1,000,000
Other operating expenses	-29,000,000		-29,000,000		-88,000,000		-128,000,000
Net investment income	104,000,000		107,000,000		320,000,000		325,000,000
Net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains	-34,000,000		16,000,000		273,000,000		-260,000,000
Interest expense	-12,000,000		-12,000,000		-36,000,000		-37,000,000
Amortization of intangible assets	-7,000,000		-7,000,000		-21,000,000		-21,000,000
Net foreign exchange gains (losses)	8,000,000		-1,000,000		11,000,000		-10,000,000
Income tax expense	-46,000,000		-70,000,000		-186,000,000		-37,000,000
Interest in earnings of equity method investments	$5,000,000		$6,000,000		$16,000,000		$10,000,000
[1]	Loss ratio is obtained by dividing losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
[2]	Acquisition ratio is obtained by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
[3]	Technical ratio is defined as the sum of the loss ratio and the acquisition ratio.
[4]	Other operating expense ratio is obtained by dividing other operating expenses by net premiums earned.
[5]	Combined ratio is defined as the sum of the technical ratio and the other operating expense ratio.
[6]	Allocated underwriting result is defined as net premiums earned, other income or loss and allocated net investment income less life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other operating expenses.