Retirement and Share-based Compensation Plans (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
ESOP, requisite service period	6 months
ESOP, vesting percentage	100.00%
ESOP, vesting period	2 years
ESOP, employer loan amount \| $	$ 7.0
ESOP, shares purchased with ESOP employer loan \| shares	650,000
ESOP, debt structure, employer loan, duration	20 years

The duration of the terms of the arrangement, in which the employer lends funds to the ESOP.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPDebtStructureEmployerLoanDuration
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Item represents the number of years of service that must be completed before an employee vests in employer contributions to the employee stock ownership plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPVestingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount represents the amount loaned by the employer to the ESOP to purchase shares of common stock held by the ESOP for allocation to the participants. This amount is eliminated in the consolidation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanEmployerLoanAmount
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The minimum period that the individual is required to perform services in order to be eligibile to participate in the American Equity Investment Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanRequisiteServicePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Item represents the original number of share purchased by the ESOP through funding by an employer loan to the ESOP.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanSharePurchaseWithEsopEmployerLoan
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage employee becomes vested in the employer contributions to the ESOP once the vesting period requirements have been met.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanVestingPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisclosureOfCompensationRelatedCostsSharebasedPaymentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration