CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 502,166	$ 684,047	$ 418,837
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition:
Accrued investment income	(48,458)	(855)	(69,875)
Premiums receivable and other reinsurance balances	(313,882)	(136,710)	(106,136)
Deferred policy acquisition costs	(66,633)	101,493	58,313
Reinsurance ceded receivable balances	(11,740)	39,345	62,058
Future policy benefits, other policy claims and benefits, and other reinsurance balances	1,867,488	1,625,561	1,429,697
Deferred income taxes	148,996	170,731	230,778
Other assets and other liabilities, net	(55,345)	(17,244)	(186,978)
Amortization of net investment premiums, discounts and other	(77,303)	(102,459)	(95,547)
Investment related (gains) losses, net	164,750	(186,193)	(63,990)
Gain on repurchase of collateral finance notes	0	0	(46,506)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement	(2,963)	3,011	(3,125)
Other, net	(18,461)	155,428	99,634
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,088,615	2,336,155	1,727,160
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	5,461,687	4,309,985	3,629,378
Principal payments on mortgage loans on real estate	439,640	539,789	155,237
Proceeds from Sale and Collection of Mortgage Notes Receivable	383,828	479,908	391,654
Principal payments on policy loans	21,322	63,785	33,724
Payments to Acquire Available-for-sale Securities	(5,874,309)	(6,129,956)	(4,766,275)
Purchases of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	(810,092)	(721,836)	(613,413)
Payments to Fund Policy Loans	(52,207)	(103,599)	(18)
Cash invested in funds withheld at interest	(339,062)	(86,588)	(90,707)
Purchase of businesses, net of cash acquired of $69,823, $0 and $9,709	(145,235)	0	(2,805)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	(23,553)	(88,361)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Payables under Repurchase Agreements	(101,203)	101,203	0
Change in short-term investments	(470,002)	38,060	138,024
Change in other invested assets	77,445	286,665	(209,900)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,431,741)	(1,310,945)	(1,335,101)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends to stockholders	(93,381)	(87,256)	(77,642)
Repayment of collateral finance and securitization notes	(19,732)	0	(119,255)
Proceeds from Issuance of Secured Debt	164,220	300,000	0
Proceeds from long-term debt issuance	0	100,000	398,492
Debt issuance costs	(4,748)	(4,260)	(3,400)
Principal payments of long-term debt	(2,380)	(772)	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(384,519)	(201,525)	(269,204)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement	2,963	(3,011)	3,125
Exercise of stock options, net	11,151	9,246	28,390
Change in cash collateral for derivative positions and other arrangements	52,381	162,435	(73,338)
Deposits on universal life and other investment type policies and contracts	277,280	150,922	201,957
Withdrawals on universal life and other investment type policies and contracts	(711,517)	(681,338)	(770,338)
Net cash used in financing activities	(708,282)	(255,559)	(681,213)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(68,986)	(47,629)	(47,091)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(120,394)	722,022	(336,245)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,645,669	923,647	1,259,892
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,525,275	1,645,669	923,647
Supplementary information:
Interest paid	148,124	136,499	116,809
Income taxes paid, net of refunds	41,577	70,342	110,773
Transfer to Investments	2,092,558	2,001,439	0
Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid	253	24,458	0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities	(3,894,940)	0	(134,791)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets	$ 4,040,175	$ 0	$ 137,596