Consolidated Statements Of Operations And Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
REVENUES:
Gross premiums written	$ 2,738,664	$ 2,329,271	$ 1,939,521
Premiums ceded	(618,183)	(491,448)	(405,755)	[1]
Net premiums written	2,120,481	1,837,823	1,533,766
Change in unearned premiums	(114,648)	(88,925)	(76,774)
Net premiums earned	2,005,833	1,748,898	1,456,992
Net investment income	157,564	167,141	195,948
Net realized investment gains	59,525	306,436	10,077
Other income	0	0	101,744
Total revenues	2,222,922	2,222,475	1,764,761
EXPENSES:
Net losses and loss expenses	1,123,242	1,139,264	959,156
Acquisition costs	252,673	205,722	167,295
General and administrative expenses	352,285	307,321	271,656
Amortization of intangible assets	2,533	2,533	2,978
Interest expense	56,510	55,405	54,989
Foreign exchange loss	8,019	783	3,159
Total expenses	1,795,262	1,711,028	1,459,233
Income before income taxes	427,660	511,447	305,528
Income tax expense	9,780	18,440	30,980
NET INCOME	417,880	493,007	274,548
Other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized (losses) gains on investments arising during the year net of applicable deferred income tax (benefit) expense 2013: $0; 2012: $(265); 2011: $3,035	0	(493)	5,243
Reclassification adjustment for net realized investment gains included in net income, net of applicable income tax	0	(13,991)	(47,894)
Other comprehensive loss	0	(14,484)	(42,651)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$ 417,880	$ 478,523	$ 231,897
PER SHARE DATA
Basic earnings per share	$ 12.23	$ 13.67	$ 7.21
Diluted earnings per share	$ 11.95	$ 13.30	$ 6.92
Weighted average common shares outstanding	34,154,905	36,057,145	38,093,351
Weighted average common shares and common share equivalents outstanding	34,955,278	37,069,885	39,667,905
Dividends paid per share	$ 1.375	$ 1.875	$ 0.750

[1] Includes the impact of the commutation of prior year variable-rated excess-of-loss reinsurance contracts, which decreased ceded premiums written and earned by $12,393 and increased prior year ceded losses and loss expenses by $11,529.