Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Premiums
Life	$ 350,012	$ 328,570	$ 318,953
Annuity	231,027	222,207	248,714
Health	180,414	156,436	175,589
Property and casualty	1,466,740	1,359,989	1,253,392
Other policy revenues	285,549	248,526	306,880
Net investment income	858,367	966,077	860,235
Net realized investment gains	18,174	104,595	46,607
Other-than-temporary impairments	(1,243)	(13,386)	(17,667)
Net losses on equity securities	(107,188)	0	0
Other income	44,530	37,986	35,248
Total premiums and other revenues	3,326,382	3,411,000	3,227,951
Policyholder benefits
Life	417,702	410,152	429,813
Annuity	290,611	270,970	296,586
Claims incurred
Health	122,547	103,037	132,390
Property and casualty	1,049,112	934,044	883,219
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances	315,684	415,190	331,770
Commissions for acquiring and servicing policies	564,054	545,405	465,965
Other operating expenses	497,011	485,340	476,462
Change in deferred policy acquisition costs	(71,497)	(81,484)	1,152
Total benefits, losses and expenses	3,185,224	3,082,654	3,017,357
Income before federal income tax and other items	141,158	328,346	210,594
Less: Provision (benefit) for federal income taxes
Current	24,044	49,101	(15,376)
Deferred	(22,599)	(142,096)	93,082
Total provision (benefit) for federal income taxes	1,445	(92,995)	77,706
Income after federal income tax	139,713	421,341	132,888
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	21,281	86,674	57,200
Other components of net periodic pension costs, net of tax	(572)	(12,408)	(7,421)
Net income	160,422	495,607	182,667
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	1,427	1,956	1,664
Net income attributable to American National	$ 158,995	$ 493,651	$ 181,003
Earnings per share
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 5.91	$ 18.35	$ 6.73
Diluted (in usd per share)	5.91	18.31	6.71
Cash dividends to common stockholders (in usd per share)	$ 3.28	$ 3.28	$ 3.26
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	26,886,357	26,896,926	26,908,570
Weighted average common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares (in shares)	26,916,643	26,960,695	26,967,072