Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Premiums
Revenue	$ 2,182,794	$ 2,228,193	$ 2,067,202
Other policy revenues	305,256	285,549	248,526
Net investment income	1,077,406	858,367	966,077
Net realized investment gains	37,719	18,174
Net realized investment gains (losses)			104,595
Other-than-temporary impairments	(6,968)	(1,243)	(13,386)
Net gains (losses) on equity securities	422,535	(107,188)	0
Other income	51,401	44,530	37,986
Total premiums and other revenues	4,070,143	3,326,382	3,411,000
Policyholder benefits
Life	449,252	417,702	410,152
Annuity	218,576	290,611	270,970
Claims incurred
Health	109,013	122,547	103,037
Property and casualty	1,042,153	1,049,112	934,044
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances	511,999	315,684	415,190
Commissions for acquiring and servicing policies	532,634	564,054	545,405
Other operating expenses	524,888	497,011	485,340
Change in deferred policy acquisition costs	(12,749)	(71,497)	(81,484)
Total benefits, losses and expenses	3,375,766	3,185,224	3,082,654
Income before federal income tax and other items	694,377	141,158	328,346
Less: Provision (benefit) for federal income taxes
Current	87,032	24,044	49,101
Deferred	78,385	(22,599)	(142,096)
Total provision (benefit) for federal income taxes	165,417	1,445	(92,995)
Income after federal income tax	528,960	139,713	421,341
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	103,501	21,281	86,674
Other components of net periodic pension costs, net of tax	(684)	(572)	(12,408)
Net income	631,777	160,422	495,607
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	11,414	1,427	1,956
Net income attributable to American National	$ 620,363	$ 158,995	$ 493,651
Earnings per share
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 23.08	$ 5.91	$ 18.35
Diluted (in usd per share)	23.07	5.91	18.31
Cash dividends to common stockholders (in usd per share)	$ 3.28	$ 3.28	$ 3.28
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	26,882,691	26,886,357	26,896,926
Weighted average common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares (in shares)	26,891,243	26,916,643	26,960,695
Life
Premiums
Revenue	$ 359,419	$ 350,012	$ 328,570
Annuity
Premiums
Revenue	147,139	231,027	222,207
Health
Premiums
Revenue	165,035	180,414	156,436
Property & Casualty
Premiums
Revenue	$ 1,511,201	$ 1,466,740	$ 1,359,989