Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Common Shares [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Of Deferred Income Taxes [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Shares At Cost [Member]	Total
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 665	$ 1,892,988	$ 366,978	$ 4,884,714	$ (1,073,970)
Balance, beginning of period, shares at Dec. 31, 2011	53,735,551
Issued during the period, shares	650,836
Treasury shares acquired, shares	(2,968,425)					(148,962)
Issued during the period, net	6
Share-based compensation plans		53,451
Net increase (decrease) during the period			170,071			170,071
Net income (loss) attributable to Everest Re Group				828,954		828,954
Dividends declared ($3.20 per share in 2014, $2.19 per share in 2013 and $1.92 per share in 2012)				(100,402)		(100,402)
Purchase of treasury shares					(289,988)
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2012	671	1,946,439	537,049	5,613,266	(1,363,958)	6,733,467
Balance, end of period, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	51,417,962
Issued during the period, shares	859,275
Treasury shares acquired, shares	(4,734,105)					(94,014)
Issued during the period, net	9
Share-based compensation plans		83,335
Net increase (decrease) during the period			(379,321)			(379,321)
Net income (loss) attributable to Everest Re Group				1,259,382		1,259,382
Dividends declared ($3.20 per share in 2014, $2.19 per share in 2013 and $1.92 per share in 2012)				(106,681)		(106,681)
Purchase of treasury shares					(621,915)
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2013	680	2,029,774	157,728	6,765,967	(1,985,873)	6,968,276
Balance, end of period, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	47,543,132					67,965,000
Issued during the period, shares	371,359
Treasury shares acquired, shares	(3,228,854)					(55,756)
Issued during the period, net	3
Share-based compensation plans		39,033
Net increase (decrease) during the period			(109,411)			(109,411)
Net income (loss) attributable to Everest Re Group				1,199,156		1,199,156
Dividends declared ($3.20 per share in 2014, $2.19 per share in 2013 and $1.92 per share in 2012)				(145,913)		(145,913)
Purchase of treasury shares					(500,024)
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 683	$ 2,068,807	$ 48,317	$ 7,819,210	$ (2,485,897)	$ 7,451,120
Balance, end of period, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	44,685,637					68,336,000