Schedule II - Condensed Statements of Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
INCOME
Net investment income	$ 79,376	$ 85,472	$ 77,732	$ 78,696	$ 68,453	$ 69,430	$ 66,469	$ 66,319	$ 321,276	$ 270,671	$ 208,789
Other income	19,502	826	11,030	5,812	34,267	8,226	(9,351)	1,943	37,170	35,085	22,605
Total income	533,235	511,395	641,214	887,267	187,909	291,980	239,864	103,782	2,573,111	823,535	1,100,952
EXPENSES
General and administrative expenses	129,569	113,924	117,519	112,074	106,950	102,553	102,612	95,260	473,086	407,375	435,985
Interest expense	13,519	14,950	13,036	11,036	4,644	4,640	8,922	8,011	52,541	26,217	28,102
Net foreign exchange losses (gains)	12,189	(13,631)	(2,587)	(3,850)	1,279	1,040	(5,519)	5,868	(7,879)	2,668	17,537
Total expenses	369,520	387,942	413,355	525,548	356,463	316,872	252,008	158,735	1,696,365	1,084,078	792,445
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENSTAR GROUP LIMITED	202,764	126,668	240,767	367,890	(106,423)	(10,832)	8,244	(41,210)	938,089	(150,221)	311,458
Dividends on preferred shares	(8,925)	(8,925)	(8,925)	(9,139)	(7,000)	(5,133)	0	0	(35,914)	(12,133)	0
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENSTAR GROUP LIMITED ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS	$ 193,839	$ 117,743	$ 231,842	$ 358,751	$ (113,423)	$ (15,965)	$ 8,244	$ (41,210)	902,175	(162,354)	311,458
Enstar Group Limited
INCOME
Net investment income									3,649	142	80
Other income									0	0	1,050
Dividend income from subsidiaries									0	0	249,055
Total income									3,649	142	250,185
EXPENSES
General and administrative expenses									44,964	68,977	87,596
Interest expense									51,508	27,353	23,138
Net foreign exchange losses (gains)									(21,516)	7,655	6,135
Total expenses									74,956	103,985	116,869
EARNINGS (LOSSES) BEFORE EQUITY IN UNDISTRIBUTED EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES									(71,307)	(103,843)	133,316
EQUITY IN UNDISTRIBUTED EARNINGS (LOSSES) OF SUBSIDIARIES - CONTINUING OPERATIONS									1,009,396	(46,378)	167,149
EQUITY IN UNDISTRIBUTED EARNINGS (LOSSES) OF SUBSIDIARIES - DISCONTINUING OPERATIONS									0	0	10,993
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENSTAR GROUP LIMITED									938,089	(150,221)	311,458
Dividends on preferred shares									(35,914)	(12,133)	0
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENSTAR GROUP LIMITED ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS									$ 902,175	$ (162,354)	$ 311,458