CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues
Net premiums earned	$ 3,705,625	$ 3,686,417	$ 3,870,999
Net investment income	353,335	305,336	342,766
Other insurance related income (loss)	7,222	(2,953)	650
Termination fee received	0	280,000	0
Net realized investment gains (losses)
Other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses	(26,210)	(72,720)	(31,227)
Other realized investment gains (losses)	(34,315)	(65,771)	163,335
Total net realized investment gains (losses)	(60,525)	(138,491)	132,108
Total revenues	4,005,657	4,130,309	4,346,523
Expenses
Net losses and loss expenses	2,204,197	2,176,199	2,186,722
Acquisition costs	746,876	718,112	737,197
General and administrative expenses	602,717	596,821	621,876
Foreign exchange gains	(121,295)	(102,312)	(104,439)
Interest expense and financing costs	51,360	50,963	74,695
Reorganization and related expenses	0	45,867	0
Total expenses	3,483,855	3,485,650	3,516,051
Income before income taxes and interest in income (loss) of equity method investments	521,802	644,659	830,472
Income tax expense	(6,340)	(3,028)	(25,908)
Interest in loss of equity method investments	(2,094)	0	0
Net income	513,368	641,631	804,564
Amounts attributable from noncontrolling interests	0	0	(6,181)
Net income attributable to AXIS Capital	513,368	641,631	810,745
Preferred share dividends	46,597	40,069	40,088
Loss on repurchase of preferred shares	1,309	0	0
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 465,462	$ 601,562	$ 770,657
Net income per common share
Basic net income (in dollars per share)	$ 5.13	$ 6.10	$ 7.38
Diluted net income (in dollars per share)	$ 5.08	$ 6.04	$ 7.29
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	90,772	98,609	104,368
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	91,547	99,629	105,713