Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses and Policy Benefits for Life and Annuity Contracts (Details - Other Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Prior Year Development [Line Items]
Total net Non-life prior year loss development	$ 721,499,000	$ 628,065,000	$ 530,457,000
Liability For Asbestos And Environmental Claims [Line Items]
Net liability for asbestos and environmental claims	193,000,000	199,000,000
Gross liability for asbestos and environmental claims	203,000,000	205,000,000
Liability For Future Policy Benefits [Line Items]
Development from prior accident years	39,000,000	14,000,000	1,000,000
Interest rate assumptions
Low end interest rate assumption	0.10%	0.20%
High end interest rate assumption	6.80%	6.60%
Asbestos Liabilities Of Paris Re [Member]
Liability For Asbestos And Environmental Claims [Line Items]
Gross liability for asbestos and environmental claims	123,000,000	125,000,000
Asbestos Liabilities Of Partner Re SA And Partner Re US [Member]
Liability For Asbestos And Environmental Claims [Line Items]
Gross liability for asbestos and environmental claims	80,000,000	80,000,000
North America Segment [Member]
Prior Year Development [Line Items]
Total net Non-life prior year loss development	222,839,000	218,483,000	189,180,000
Global (Non-US) P&C [Member]
Prior Year Development [Line Items]
Total net Non-life prior year loss development	180,052,000	114,279,000	115,995,000
Global Specialty [Member]
Prior Year Development [Line Items]
Total net Non-life prior year loss development	227,383,000	250,523,000	128,975,000
Global Specialty [Member] | Engineering [Member]
Prior Year Development [Line Items]
Total net Non-life prior year loss development		(6,000,000)
Global Specialty [Member] | Energy and Engineering Combined [Member]
Prior Year Development [Line Items]
Total net Non-life prior year loss development			(13,000,000)
Catastrophe Segment [Member]
Prior Year Development [Line Items]
Total net Non-life prior year loss development	$ 91,225,000	$ 44,780,000	$ 96,307,000