Segment Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]

For the years ended December 31,	2016		2015		2014
Revenues:
U.S. and Latin America:
Traditional	$	5,964,968	$	5,465,026	$	5,283,268
Financial Solutions	840,446		643,865		1,014,143
Total	6,805,414		6,108,891		6,297,411
Canada:
Traditional	1,118,004		1,023,012		1,153,515
Financial Solutions	46,938		45,034		28,350
Total	1,164,942		1,068,046		1,181,865
Europe, Middle East and Africa:
Traditional	1,195,149		1,190,742		1,235,049
Financial Solutions	340,518		286,666		322,798
Total	1,535,667		1,477,408		1,557,847
Asia Pacific:
Traditional	1,771,150		1,638,357		1,686,436
Financial Solutions	63,382		56,581		70,282
Total	1,834,532		1,694,938		1,756,718
Corporate and Other	180,956		68,895		110,353
Total	$	11,521,511	$	10,418,178	$	10,904,194

Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]

For the years ended December 31,	2016			2015			2014
Income (loss) before income taxes:
U.S. and Latin America:
Traditional	$	371,101		$	235,771		$	351,645
Financial Solutions	283,380			207,963			302,944
Total	654,481			443,734			654,589
Canada:
Traditional	134,705			124,175			95,435
Financial Solutions	7,945			13,902			6,265
Total	142,650			138,077			101,700
Europe, Middle East and Africa:
Traditional	30,059			48,410			60,305
Financial Solutions	138,007			108,445			101,337
Total	168,066			156,855			161,642
Asia Pacific:
Traditional	113,928			105,654			90,602
Financial Solutions	4,063			19,619			11,693
Total	117,991			125,273			102,295
Corporate and Other	(39,242		)	(119,144		)	(11,693		)
Total	$	1,043,946		$	744,795		$	1,008,533

Reconciliation of Other Significant Reconciling Items from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]

For the years ended December 31,	2016		2015		2014
Interest expense:
Corporate and Other	$	137,623	$	142,863	$	96,700
Total	$	137,623	$	142,863	$	96,700

For the years ended December 31,	2016		2015		2014
Depreciation and amortization:
U.S. and Latin America:
Traditional	$	271,732	$	218,974	$	558,404
Financial Solutions	155,560		44,275		232,348
Total	427,292		263,249		790,752
Canada:
Traditional	22,170		23,887		204,229
Financial Solutions	11		—		—
Total	22,181		23,887		204,229
Europe, Middle East and Africa:
Traditional	46,562		60,193		57,291
Financial Solutions	72		—		—
Total	46,634		60,193		57,291
Asia Pacific:
Traditional	45,562		31,955		94,763
Financial Solutions	1,492		217		409
Total	47,054		32,172		95,172
Corporate and Other	13,894		16,495		3,644
Total	$	557,055	$	395,996	$	1,151,088

The table above includes amortization of DAC, including the effect from investment related gains and losses. During 2015, the Company enhanced its process to track certain DAC components. See Note 8 - “Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs” for additional information.

Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated [Table Text Block]

For the years ended December 31,	2016		2015
Assets:
U.S. and Latin America:
Traditional	$	18,140,825	$	16,554,509
Financial Solutions	13,712,106		13,405,878
Total	31,852,931		29,960,387
Canada:
Traditional	3,846,682		3,604,344
Financial Solutions	85,405		27,543
Total	3,932,087		3,631,887
Europe, Middle East and Africa:
Traditional	2,559,124		2,757,593
Financial Solutions	3,876,131		4,162,703
Total	6,435,255		6,920,296
Asia Pacific:
Traditional	3,968,081		3,227,530
Financial Solutions	676,281		742,528
Total	4,644,362		3,970,058
Corporate and Other	6,233,244		5,900,524
Total	$	53,097,879	$	50,383,152