Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	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, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	47,543,132
Issued during the period, shares	344,761
Treasury shares acquired, shares	(2,638,063)
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 680	$ 2,029,774	$ 157,728	$ 6,765,967	$ (1,985,873)
Issued during the period, net	$ 3
Share-based compensation plans		30,182
Net increase (decrease) during the period			27,669			$ 27,669
Net income (loss) attributable to Everest Re Group				859,033		859,033
Dividends declared ($0.95 per share in third quarter 2015 and $2.85 year-to-date per share in 2015 and $0.75 per share in third quarter 2014 and $2.25 year-to-date per share in 2014)				(103,034)		(103,034)
Purchase of treasury shares					(399,942)
Balance, end of period, shares at Sep. 30, 2014	45,249,830
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 683	2,059,956	185,397	7,521,966	(2,385,815)	7,382,187
Balance, beginning of period, shares at Jun. 30, 2014	45,691,015
Issued during the period, shares	29,622
Treasury shares acquired, shares	(470,807)
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2014	$ 683	2,052,682	299,304	7,281,023	(2,310,824)
Share-based compensation plans		7,274
Net increase (decrease) during the period			(113,907)			(113,907)
Net income (loss) attributable to Everest Re Group				274,916		274,916
Dividends declared ($0.95 per share in third quarter 2015 and $2.85 year-to-date per share in 2015 and $0.75 per share in third quarter 2014 and $2.25 year-to-date per share in 2014)				(33,973)		(33,973)
Purchase of treasury shares					(74,991)
Balance, end of period, shares at Sep. 30, 2014	45,249,830
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 683	2,059,956	185,397	7,521,966	(2,385,815)	$ 7,382,187
Balance, beginning of period, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	44,685,637					68,336,000
Issued during the period, shares	248,665
Treasury shares acquired, shares	(1,849,851)
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 683	2,068,807	48,317	7,819,210	(2,485,897)	$ 7,451,120
Issued during the period, net	$ 3
Share-based compensation plans		26,043
Net increase (decrease) during the period			(160,548)			(160,548)
Net income (loss) attributable to Everest Re Group				620,588		620,588
Dividends declared ($0.95 per share in third quarter 2015 and $2.85 year-to-date per share in 2015 and $0.75 per share in third quarter 2014 and $2.25 year-to-date per share in 2014)				(125,905)		$ (125,905)
Purchase of treasury shares					(324,981)
Balance, end of period, shares at Sep. 30, 2015	43,084,451					68,585,000
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 686	2,094,850	(112,231)	8,313,893	(2,810,878)	$ 7,486,320
Balance, beginning of period, shares at Jun. 30, 2015	44,192,526
Issued during the period, shares	29,398
Treasury shares acquired, shares	(1,137,473)
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2015	$ 685	2,084,636	(14,819)	8,267,038	(2,610,878)
Issued during the period, net	$ 1
Share-based compensation plans		10,214
Net increase (decrease) during the period			(97,412)			(97,412)
Net income (loss) attributable to Everest Re Group				88,553		88,553
Dividends declared ($0.95 per share in third quarter 2015 and $2.85 year-to-date per share in 2015 and $0.75 per share in third quarter 2014 and $2.25 year-to-date per share in 2014)				(41,698)		$ (41,698)
Purchase of treasury shares					(200,000)
Balance, end of period, shares at Sep. 30, 2015	43,084,451					68,585,000
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 686	$ 2,094,850	$ (112,231)	$ 8,313,893	$ (2,810,878)	$ 7,486,320