Non-controlling interests Noncontrolling interests (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
Minority Interests [Line Items]
Total Noncontrolling Interests, beginning of period				$ 0				$ 113,626	$ 0	$ 113,626
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	0	$ 0	$ 4	$ 209	10	0	223	$ 3,973
Contributions From Noncontrolling Interest										644
Redemptions (1)										114,493
Total Noncontrolling Interests, end of period					0					0	113,626
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Minority Interests [Line Items]
Redeemable noncontrolling interests, beginning of period				0				108,219	0	108,219
Change in Capital Account Allocation, Redeemable										(108,219)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests, end of period					0					0	108,219
Noncontrolling interests in related party
Minority Interests [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests in related party, beginning of period				0				5,407	0	5,407
Change in Capital Account Allocation, Nonredeemable										(5,407)
Noncontrolling interests in related party, end of period					0					0	5,407
Total Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Minority Interests [Line Items]
Total Noncontrolling Interests, beginning of period				0				113,626	$ 0	113,626
Change in Capital Account Allocation										(113,626)
Total Noncontrolling Interests, end of period					0					0	113,626
TP Fund
Minority Interests [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	83.50%								83.50%
Third Point USA [Member]
Minority Interests [Line Items]
Total Noncontrolling Interests, beginning of period				0				16,007	$ 0	16,007
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest										82
Contributions From Noncontrolling Interest										80
Redemptions (1)										16,169
Total Noncontrolling Interests, end of period					0					0	16,007
Third Point Bermuda [Member]
Minority Interests [Line Items]
Total Noncontrolling Interests, beginning of period				$ 0				$ 97,619	$ 0	97,619
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest										141
Contributions From Noncontrolling Interest										564
Redemptions (1)										98,324
Total Noncontrolling Interests, end of period					$ 0					$ 0	$ 97,619
TP GP [Member]
Minority Interests [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	16.10%								16.10%