Consolidated Statements of Earnings - 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 premiums earned	$ 272,686	$ 270,325	$ 276,563	$ 335,287	$ 231,947	$ 264,597	$ 228,812	$ 170,219	$ 1,154,861	$ 895,575	$ 613,121
Fees and commission income	9,007	6,587	6,178	6,681	11,455	6,950	8,352	8,331	28,453	35,088	66,103
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
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	152,664	148,185	269,711	460,791	(158,213)	(57,223)	(54,418)	(143,030)	1,031,351	(412,884)	190,334
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
Net incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses	121,416	222,417	216,338	312,404	187,698	153,974	92,819	19,534	872,575	454,025	193,551
Life and annuity policy benefits	(2,199)	0	2,194	96	786	423	(160)	(46)	91	1,003	4,015
Acquisition costs	95,026	50,282	66,855	93,788	55,106	54,242	53,334	30,108	305,951	192,790	96,906
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 (gains) losses	12,189	(13,631)	(2,587)	(3,850)	1,279	1,040	(5,519)	5,868	(7,879)	2,668	17,537
Loss on sale of subsidiary									0	0	16,349
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
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	163,715	123,453	227,859	361,719	(168,554)	(24,892)	(12,144)	(54,953)	876,746	(260,543)	308,507
Income tax benefit (expense)	22,427	(14,597)	(7,518)	(4,749)	10,688	(746)	(3,646)	(172)	(4,437)	6,124	6,395
Earnings from equity method investments	11,722	17,703	17,713	8,772	8,488	3,317	15,645	14,697	55,910	42,147	5,904
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS									928,219	(212,272)	320,806
Net earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes									0	0	10,993
NET EARNINGS (LOSS)	197,864	126,559	238,054	365,742	(149,378)	(22,321)	(145)	(40,428)	928,219	(212,272)	331,799
Net loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interest	4,900	109	2,713	2,148	42,955	11,489	8,389	(782)	9,870	62,051	(20,341)
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
Basic:
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations (dollars per share)									$ 42.00	$ (7.84)	$ 15.50
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (dollars per share)									0	0	0.56
Net earnings (loss) per ordinary share (dollars per share)	$ 9.02	$ 5.48	$ 10.79	$ 16.71	$ (5.29)	$ (0.74)	$ 0.40	$ (2.12)	42.00	(7.84)	16.06
Diluted:
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations (dollars per share)									41.43	(7.84)	15.39
Net earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (dollars per share)									0	0	0.56
Net earnings (loss) per ordinary share (dollars per share)	$ 8.89	$ 5.42	$ 10.70	$ 16.57	$ (5.29)	$ (0.74)	$ 0.40	$ (2.12)	$ 41.43	$ (7.84)	$ 15.95
Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)									21,482,617	20,698,310	19,388,621
Diluted (shares)									21,775,066	20,904,176	19,527,591