Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at beginning of the period at Dec. 31, 2015		$ 30,832	$ 13,689	$ 352,620	$ 4,157,184	$ (102,043)	$ 10,189
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reissuance (purchase) of treasury shares			1,825			266
Net income attributable to American National	$ 181,003				181,003
Contributions							0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	103,279			103,279
Income tax effect from restricted stock arrangement			49
Cash dividends to common stockholders					(87,741)
Distributions							(2,536)
Amortization of restricted stock			843
Cumulative effect of accounting changes				0	372
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest							1,664
Balance at end of the period at Dec. 31, 2016	4,661,495	30,832	16,406	455,899	4,250,818	(101,777)	9,317
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reissuance (purchase) of treasury shares			1,964			161
Net income attributable to American National	493,651				493,651
Contributions							26
Other comprehensive income (loss)	186,317			186,317
Income tax effect from restricted stock arrangement			0
Cash dividends to common stockholders					(88,335)
Distributions							(2,287)
Amortization of restricted stock			823
Cumulative effect of accounting changes				0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest							1,956
Balance at end of the period at Dec. 31, 2017	5,255,771	30,832	19,193	642,216	4,656,134	(101,616)	9,012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reissuance (purchase) of treasury shares			1,173			(6,876)
Net income attributable to American National	158,995				158,995
Contributions							6,182
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(114,835)			(114,835)
Income tax effect from restricted stock arrangement			0
Cash dividends to common stockholders					(88,228)
Distributions							(2,354)
Amortization of restricted stock			328
Cumulative effect of accounting changes				(627,119)	687,051
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest							1,427
Balance at end of the period at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 5,271,515	$ 30,832	$ 20,694	$ (99,738)	$ 5,413,952	$ (108,492)	$ 14,267