Segment Information - Summary of Operations by Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	$ 61,658	$ 31,661
Fees and commission income	6,998	2,447
Net investment income	24,348	17,963
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	34,573	30,120
Total income	127,577	82,191
Net (reduction) increase in ultimate losses and loss adjustment expense liabilities:
Non-life run-off	(29,182)
Active underwriting	17,131
Total net (reduction) increase in ultimate losses and loss adjustment expense liabilities	(12,051)	9,161
Acquisition costs	13,161	2,387
Life and annuity policy benefits	26,809	741
Salaries and benefits	31,390	23,610
General and administrative expenses	22,250	17,946
Interest expense	3,734	2,435
Net foreign exchange losses (gains)	1,596	5,082
Total expenses	86,889	61,362
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	40,688	20,829
INCOME TAXES	(7,276)	(7,844)
NET EARNINGS	33,412	12,985
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	(3,825)	(1,026)
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENSTAR GROUP LIMITED	29,587	11,959
Operating Segments [Member] | Non-Life Run-Off [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	2,527	30,920
Fees and commission income	2,955	2,628
Net investment income	14,333	17,691
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	29,629	30,278
Total income	49,444	81,517
Net (reduction) increase in ultimate losses and loss adjustment expense liabilities:
Non-life run-off	(29,182)
Active underwriting
Total net (reduction) increase in ultimate losses and loss adjustment expense liabilities	(29,182)	9,161
Acquisition costs		2,387
Life and annuity policy benefits
Salaries and benefits	25,846	23,464
General and administrative expenses	15,763	16,415
Interest expense	2,561	2,420
Net foreign exchange losses (gains)	2,130	4,936
Total expenses	17,118	58,783
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	32,326	22,734
INCOME TAXES	(3,651)	(7,823)
NET EARNINGS	28,675	14,911
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	(3,075)	(1,026)
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENSTAR GROUP LIMITED	25,600	13,885
Operating Segments [Member] | Active Underwriting [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	32,639
Fees and commission income	4,821
Net investment income	480
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	(107)
Total income	37,833
Net (reduction) increase in ultimate losses and loss adjustment expense liabilities:
Non-life run-off
Active underwriting	17,131
Total net (reduction) increase in ultimate losses and loss adjustment expense liabilities	17,131
Acquisition costs	9,561
Life and annuity policy benefits
Salaries and benefits	3,533
General and administrative expenses	4,934
Interest expense	1,173
Net foreign exchange losses (gains)	(545)
Total expenses	35,787
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	2,046
INCOME TAXES	(1,339)
NET EARNINGS	707
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	(750)
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENSTAR GROUP LIMITED	(43)
Operating Segments [Member] | Life and Annuities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	26,492	741
Fees and commission income	21
Net investment income	9,989	272
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	5,051	(158)
Total income	41,553	855
Net (reduction) increase in ultimate losses and loss adjustment expense liabilities:
Non-life run-off
Active underwriting
Total net (reduction) increase in ultimate losses and loss adjustment expense liabilities
Acquisition costs	3,600
Life and annuity policy benefits	26,809	741
Salaries and benefits	2,011	146
General and administrative expenses	2,352	1,712
Interest expense	454	15
Net foreign exchange losses (gains)	11	146
Total expenses	35,237	2,760
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	6,316	(1,905)
INCOME TAXES	(2,286)	(21)
NET EARNINGS	4,030	(1,926)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENSTAR GROUP LIMITED	4,030	(1,926)
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned
Fees and commission income	(799)	(181)
Net investment income	(454)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)
Total income	(1,253)	(181)
Net (reduction) increase in ultimate losses and loss adjustment expense liabilities:
Non-life run-off
Active underwriting
Total net (reduction) increase in ultimate losses and loss adjustment expense liabilities
Acquisition costs
Life and annuity policy benefits
Salaries and benefits
General and administrative expenses	(799)	(181)
Interest expense	(454)
Net foreign exchange losses (gains)
Total expenses	(1,253)	(181)
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES
NET EARNINGS
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENSTAR GROUP LIMITED