Financial Instruments (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of other investments, at fair value
Other investments, Cost	$ 37,261	$ 37,299
Other investments, Carrying Value	37,609	42,772
Other investments, Unrealized Gain /(Loss)	348	5,473
Interests in securitizations [Member]
Schedule of other investments, at fair value
Other investments, Cost	217	217
Other investments, Carrying Value	97	88
Other investments, Unrealized Gain /(Loss)	(120)	(129)
Equity securities [Member]
Schedule of other investments, at fair value
Other investments, Cost	36,804	36,804
Other investments, Carrying Value	37,217	42,417
Other investments, Unrealized Gain /(Loss)	413	5,613
Equity securities [Member] | EuroDekania [Member]
Schedule of other investments, at fair value
Other investments, Cost	7,792	7,792
Other investments, Carrying Value	2,103	2,370
Other investments, Unrealized Gain /(Loss)	(5,689)	(5,422)
Equity securities [Member] | Star Asia [Member]
Schedule of other investments, at fair value
Other investments, Cost	23,219	23,219
Other investments, Carrying Value	32,299	37,358
Other investments, Unrealized Gain /(Loss)	9,080	14,139
Equity securities [Member] | Tiptree Financial Partners L.P. [Member]
Schedule of other investments, at fair value
Other investments, Cost	5,561	5,561
Other investments, Carrying Value	2,703	2,533
Other investments, Unrealized Gain /(Loss)	(2,858)	(3,028)
Equity securities [Member] | Other securities [Member]
Schedule of other investments, at fair value
Other investments, Cost	232	232
Other investments, Carrying Value	112	156
Other investments, Unrealized Gain /(Loss)	(120)	(76)
Residential loans [Member]
Schedule of other investments, at fair value
Other investments, Cost	240	278
Other investments, Carrying Value	229	267
Other investments, Unrealized Gain /(Loss)	(11)	(11)
Foreign currency forward contracts [Member]
Schedule of other investments, at fair value
Other investments, Carrying Value	66
Other investments, Unrealized Gain /(Loss)	$ 66