CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fixed Maturity Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale at fair value (amortized cost of $30,211,787 and $28,322,977)	$ 32,093,625	$ 29,642,905
Mortgage loans on real estate (net of allowances of $7,685 and $6,813)	3,775,522	3,129,951
Policy loans	1,427,602	1,468,796
Funds withheld at interest	5,875,919	5,880,203
Short-term investments	76,710	558,284
Other invested assets	1,591,940	1,298,120
Total investments	44,841,318	41,978,259
Cash and cash equivalents	1,200,718	1,525,275
Accrued investment income	347,173	339,452
Premiums receivable and other reinsurance balances	1,930,755	1,797,504
Reinsurance ceded receivables	683,972	637,859
Deferred policy acquisition costs	3,338,605	3,392,437
Other assets	755,338	712,366
Total assets	53,097,879	50,383,152
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Future policy benefits	19,581,573	19,612,251
Interest-sensitive contract liabilities	14,029,354	13,663,873
Other policy claims and benefits	4,263,026	4,094,640
Other reinsurance balances	388,989	296,899
Deferred income taxes	2,770,640	2,218,328
Other liabilities	1,041,880	1,165,071
Long-term debt	3,088,635	2,297,548
Collateral finance and securitization notes	840,700	899,161
Total liabilities	46,004,797	44,247,771
Commitments and contingent liabilities (See Note 12)
Stockholders Equity:
Preferred stock (par value $.01 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding)	0	0
Common stock (par value $.01 per share; 140,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued: 79,137,758 at December 31, 2016 and 2015)	791	791
Additional paid-in-capital	1,848,611	1,816,142
Retained earnings	5,199,130	4,620,303
Treasury stock, at cost - 14,835,256 and 13,933,232 shares	(1,094,779)	(1,010,139)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,139,329	708,284
Total stockholders’ equity	7,093,082	6,135,381
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 53,097,879	$ 50,383,152