Segment Information (Total Revenues of Reportable Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,630,340	$ 2,833,020	$ 5,150,953	$ 5,490,193
Americas [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	1,534,023	1,626,475	2,981,986	3,193,788
CANADA
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	281,548	309,113	558,426	586,862
EMEA [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	359,500	391,318	710,108	757,175
Asia Pacific [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	418,390	483,171	831,835	898,200
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	36,879	22,943	68,598	54,168
Life Insurance Product Line [Member] | Americas [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	1,342,248	1,333,027	2,597,538	2,611,719
Life Insurance Product Line [Member] | CANADA
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	270,090	301,401	535,094	572,845
Life Insurance Product Line [Member] | EMEA [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	284,192	307,100	579,424	614,850
Life Insurance Product Line [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	411,314	465,538	805,189	852,427
Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts [Member] | Americas [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	191,775	293,448	384,448	582,069
Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts [Member] | CANADA
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	11,458	7,712	23,332	14,017
Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts [Member] | EMEA [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	75,308	84,218	130,684	142,325
Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 7,076	$ 17,633	$ 26,646	$ 45,773