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, 2012	51,417,962
Issued during the period, shares	859,275
Treasury shares acquired, shares	(4,734,105)
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 671	$ 1,946,439	$ 537,049	$ 5,613,266	$ (1,363,958)
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 ($ 4.00 per share in 2015, $3.20 per share in 2014 and $2.19 per share in 2013)				(106,681)		(106,681)
Purchase of treasury shares					(621,915)
Balance, end of period, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	47,543,132
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 680	2,029,774	157,728	6,765,967	(1,985,873)	6,968,276
Issued during the period, shares	371,359
Treasury shares acquired, shares	(3,228,854)
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 ($ 4.00 per share in 2015, $3.20 per share in 2014 and $2.19 per share in 2013)				(145,913)		$ (145,913)
Purchase of treasury shares					(500,024)
Balance, end of period, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	44,685,637					68,336,000
Balance, end 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, shares	270,477
Treasury shares acquired, shares	(2,261,862)
Issued during the period, net	$ 3
Share-based compensation plans		34,831
Net increase (decrease) during the period			(280,072)			(280,072)
Net income (loss) attributable to Everest Re Group				977,869		977,869
Dividends declared ($ 4.00 per share in 2015, $3.20 per share in 2014 and $2.19 per share in 2013)				(175,107)		$ (175,107)
Purchase of treasury shares					(400,059)
Balance, end of period, shares at Dec. 31, 2015	42,694,252					68,606,000
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 686	$ 2,103,638	$ (231,755)	$ 8,621,972	$ (2,885,956)	$ 7,608,585