Taxation (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Disclosure - Taxation [Abstract]

Components of income tax expense

		2013		2012		2011
Current income tax expense
U.S.	$	55,993	$	29,196	$	82,065
Non U.S.		73,599		115,669		72,268
Total current income tax expense	$	129,592	$	144,865	$	154,333
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense
U.S.	$	(13,693)	$	48,740	$	(36,780)
Non U.S.		(70,886)		6,717		(8,112)
Total deferred income tax (benefit) expense	$	(84,579)	$	55,457	$	(44,892)
Unrecognized tax expense (benefit)
U.S.	$	(335)	$	(623)	$	81
Non U.S.		3,738		4,585		(40,550)
Total unrecognized tax expense (benefit)	$	3,403	$	3,962	$	(40,469)
Total income tax expense
U.S.	$	41,965	$	77,313	$	45,366
Non U.S.		6,451		126,971		23,606
Total income tax expense	$	48,416	$	204,284	$	68,972

Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign [Table Text Block]

		2013		2012		2011
Domestic (Bermuda)	$	611,900	$	661,648	$	(634,310)
Foreign		109,958		677,150		182,991
Income (loss) before taxes	$	721,858	$	1,338,798	$	(451,319)

Reconciliation of effective tax rate

Reconciliation of effective tax rate (% of income (loss) before taxes)
Expected tax rate	0.0	%	0.0	%	0.0	%
Foreign taxes at local expected tax rates	5.1		14.6		(7.2)
Impact of foreign exchange (losses) gains	(1.1)		(0.4)		0.4
Unrecognized tax benefit	0.5		0.3		9.0
Tax-exempt income and expenses not deductible	(0.9)		(0.3)		(11.6)
Impact of enacted changes in tax laws	1.8		0.7		0.0
Foreign branch tax	(1.4)		(0.7)		(5.7)
Valuation allowance	1.3		1.2		(1.9)
Other	1.4		(0.1)		1.7
Actual tax rate	6.7	%	15.3	%	(15.3)	%

Significant components of net deferred tax assets and liabilities

		2013		2012
Deferred tax assets
Discounting of loss reserves and adjustment to life policy reserves	$	78,999	$	50,341
Foreign tax credit carryforwards		42,620		37,569
Tax loss carryforwards		23,940		47,373
Unearned premiums		23,022		17,856
Other deferred tax assets		33,648		36,424
		202,229		189,563
Valuation allowance		(46,111)		(47,412)
Deferred tax assets		156,118		142,151
Deferred tax liabilities
Deferred acquisition costs		52,165		46,311
Goodwill and other intangibles		102,619		106,445
Equalization reserves		128,132		122,930
Unrealized appreciation and timing differences on investments		72,769		141,856
Other deferred tax liabilities		23,866		24,968
Deferred tax liabilities		379,551		442,510
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(223,433)	$	(300,359)

Schedule Of Net Tax Assets And Liabilities Table [Text Block]

		2013		2012
Net tax assets	$	14,133	$	25,098
Net tax liabilities		(284,442)		(387,647)
Net tax liabilities	$	(270,309)	$	(362,549)
		2013		2012
Net current tax liabilities	$	(26,308)	$	(45,606)
Net deferred tax liabilities		(223,433)		(300,359)
Net unrecognized tax benefit		(20,568)		(16,584)
Net tax liabilities	$	(270,309)	$	(362,549)

Total amount of unrecognized tax benefits

				Changes in tax		Tax positions		Change as a		Impact of the
				positions taken		taken		result of a lapse		change in
		January 1,		during a prior		during the		of the statute		foreign currency		December 31,
		2013		period		current period		of limitations		exchange rates		2013
Unrecognized tax benefits
	that, if recognized, would impact
	the effective tax rate	$	15,784	$	(5,038)	$	10,164	$	(2,102)	$	545	$	19,353
Interest and penalties recognized
	on the above		800		507		51		(179)		36		1,215
Total unrecognized tax benefits, including
	interest and penalties	$	16,584	$	(4,531)	$	10,215	$	(2,281)	$	581	$	20,568

				Changes in tax		Tax positions		Change as a		Impact of the
				positions taken		taken		result of a lapse		change in
		January 1,		during a prior		during the		of the statute		foreign currency		December 31,
		2012		period		current period		of limitations		exchange rates		2012
Unrecognized tax benefits
	that, if recognized, would impact
	the effective tax rate	$	11,879	$	1,571	$	3,080	$	(1,057)	$	311	$	15,784
Interest and penalties recognized
	on the above		411		504		8		(144)		21		800
Total unrecognized tax benefits, including
	interest and penalties	$	12,290	$	2,075	$	3,088	$	(1,201)	$	332	$	16,584

				Changes in tax		Tax positions		Change as a		Impact of the
				positions taken		taken		result of a lapse		change in
		January 1,		during a prior		during the		of the statute		foreign currency		December 31,
		2011		period		current period		of limitations		exchange rates		2011
Unrecognized tax benefits
	that, if recognized, would impact
	the effective tax rate	$	51,529	$	3,194	$	3,788	$	(47,886)	$	1,254	$	11,879
Interest and penalties recognized
	on the above		0		435		0		0		(24)		411
Total unrecognized tax benefits, including
	interest and penalties	$	51,529	$	3,629	$	3,788	$	(47,886)	$	1,230	$	12,290