Management, performance and founders fees (Details) (USD $)				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 Third Point Advisors LLC	Mar. 31, 2014 TP LLC and Various Third Point Re Founders	Dec. 31, 2013 Performance fees due under the Investment Agreement	Mar. 31, 2014 Net investment income	Mar. 31, 2013 Net investment income	Mar. 31, 2014 Net investment income Third Point LLC	Mar. 31, 2013 Net investment income Third Point LLC	Mar. 31, 2014 Net investment income Founders	Mar. 31, 2013 Net investment income Founders	Mar. 31, 2013 Net investment income Third Point Advisors LLC	Mar. 31, 2014 Net investment income Performance fees due under the Investment Agreement Third Point Advisors LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual investment performance fee	20.00%
Annual investment management fee		2.00%
Investment fee expenses				$ 20,219,000	$ 24,832,000	$ 1,189,000	$ 724,000	$ 6,735,000	$ 4,102,000	$ 20,006,000	$ 12,295,000
Performance fee payable			$ 63,000,000