Management, performance and founders fees (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2018
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment fee expenses	$ 0	$ 29,845	$ 130,711
Affiliate costs, gross of TP fund fees	19,556	37,221	130,711
Management and performance fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment fee expenses	0	29,845	130,711
Third Point LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual Investment Management Fee				1.50%
Third Point LLC | Management and performance fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment fee expenses	$ 0	$ 25,797	36,733
TP Fund
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual investment performance fee	20.00%
Annual Investment Management Fee	1.25%	1.50%
Investment fee expenses	$ 67,026	$ 7,376	0
Third Point Advisors LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual investment performance fee				20.00%
Third Point Advisors LLC [Member] | Management and performance fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment fee expenses	0	4,048	93,978
Performance fees - loss carryforward utilized
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment fee expenses	47,470	0
Performance fees - loss carryforward utilized | Management and performance fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment fee expenses			$ 0
Third Point Bermuda [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loss Recovery Account Forfeitures	1,300
Loss Recovery Account	0	46,800
Third Point USA [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loss Recovery Account Forfeitures	1,300
Loss Recovery Account	$ 500	$ 3,800