Fair Value (Details - Valuation Technique and Inputs) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, trading securities	$ 13,898,401	$ 13,593,303
Equities, trading securities	1,249,744	1,221,053
Other invested assets carried at fair value	113,339	135,139
Funds held directly managed investments carried at fair value	596,333	561,306
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, trading securities	561,168	554,957
Equities, trading securities	40,270	38,045
Other invested assets carried at fair value	102,801	103,853
Funds held directly managed investments carried at fair value	15,524	15,451
US states, territories and municipalities [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, trading securities	113,467	108,380
US states, territories and municipalities [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	2.70%	2.90%
US states, territories and municipalities [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	10.10%	9.90%
US states, territories and municipalities [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	5.40%	5.30%
Asset-backed securities - interest only [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, trading securities	20	21
Asset-backed securities - interest only [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	5.20%	5.50%
Asset-backed securities - interest only [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	10.30%	10.70%
Asset-backed securities - interest only [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	8.50%	8.80%
Asset-backed securities - other [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, trading securities	447,681	446,556
Asset-backed securities - other [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	3.90%	4.00%
Asset-backed securities - other [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	12.10%	12.20%
Asset-backed securities - other [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	6.90%	7.10%
Finance [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Equities, trading securities	17,316	15,483
Finance [Member] | Profitability Analysis [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Equities, trading securities	5,390	4,724
Finance [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Net income multiple	14.600	14.600
Tangible book value multiple	1.100	1.100
Liquidity discount	25.00%	25.00%
Comparable return	12.00%	8.50%
Finance [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Profitability Analysis [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Projected Return On Equity	14.00%	14.00%
Finance [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Net income multiple	14.600	14.600
Tangible book value multiple	1.100	1.100
Liquidity discount	25.00%	25.00%
Comparable return	12.00%	8.50%
Finance [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Profitability Analysis [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Projected Return On Equity	14.00%	14.00%
Finance [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Net income multiple	14.600	14.600
Tangible book value multiple	1.100	1.100
Liquidity discount	25.00%	25.00%
Comparable return	12.00%	8.50%
Finance [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Profitability Analysis [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Projected Return On Equity	14.00%	14.00%
Communications [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Equities, trading securities	2,111	2,199
Communications [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Adjusted earnings multiple	9.400	9.400
Comparable return	(4.00%)	0.00%
Communications [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Adjusted earnings multiple	9.400	9.400
Comparable return	(4.00%)	0.00%
Communications [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Adjusted earnings multiple	9.400	9.400
Comparable return	(4.00%)	0.00%
Technology [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Equities, trading securities	7,400	7,752
Technology [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Adjusted earnings multiple	8.400	4.400
Gross revenue/fair value	1.500	0.900
Technology [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Adjusted earnings multiple	8.400	4.400
Gross revenue/fair value	1.500	0.900
Technology [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Weighted market comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Adjusted earnings multiple	8.400	4.400
Gross revenue/fair value	1.500	0.900
Total return swaps [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Other invested assets carried at fair value	(302)	(520)
Total return swaps [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	3.50%	2.80%
Total return swaps [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	18.30%	18.90%
Total return swaps [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	14.30%	17.00%
Notes and loan receivables [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Other invested assets carried at fair value	22,038	21,280
Notes and loan receivables [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	17.50%	17.50%
Gross revenue/fair value	1.300	1.500
Notes and loan receivables [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	17.50%	17.50%
Gross revenue/fair value	1.500	1.500
Notes and loan receivables [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	17.50%	17.50%
Gross revenue/fair value	1.500	1.500
Notes securitization [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Other invested assets carried at fair value	20,205	20,166
Notes securitization [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	6.10%	6.20%
Notes securitization [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	6.10%	6.20%
Notes securitization [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	6.10%	6.20%
Annuities and residuals [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Other invested assets carried at fair value	18,945	24,064
Annuities and residuals [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	4.00%	4.00%
Prepayment speed	0.00%	0.00%
Constant default rate	0.30%	0.30%
Annuities and residuals [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	7.50%	7.90%
Prepayment speed	15.00%	15.00%
Constant default rate	23.00%	35.00%
Annuities and residuals [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	5.80%	5.80%
Prepayment speed	6.10%	6.40%
Constant default rate	8.80%	12.40%
Private Equity-Direct [Member] | Discounted Cash Flow And Weighted Market Comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Other invested assets carried at fair value	12,040	11,742
Private Equity-Direct [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted Cash Flow And Weighted Market Comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Net income multiple	9.100	8.300
Tangible book value multiple	1.700	1.600
Recoverability of intangible assets	0	0
Private Equity-Direct [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted Cash Flow And Weighted Market Comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Net income multiple	9.100	8.300
Tangible book value multiple	1.700	1.600
Recoverability of intangible assets	0	0
Private Equity-Direct [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted Cash Flow And Weighted Market Comparables [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Net income multiple	9.100	8.300
Tangible book value multiple	1.700	1.600
Recoverability of intangible assets	0	0
Private equity funds [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Other invested assets carried at fair value	12,653	8,993
Private equity funds [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Net asset value, as reported	100.00%	100.00%
Market adjustments	(1.90%)	1.80%
Private equity funds [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Net asset value, as reported	100.00%	100.00%
Market adjustments	2.20%	9.80%
Private equity funds [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Net asset value, as reported	100.00%	100.00%
Market adjustments	1.20%	8.30%
Private Equity - Other [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Other invested assets carried at fair value	17,962	18,396
Private Equity - Other [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads		3.80%
Effective Yield	5.80%
Private Equity - Other [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads		3.80%
Effective Yield	5.80%
Private Equity - Other [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads		3.80%
Effective Yield	5.80%
Other invested assets funds held directly managed lag reported net asset values [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Funds held directly managed investments carried at fair value	$ 15,223	$ 15,165
Other invested assets funds held directly managed lag reported net asset values [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Net asset value, as reported	100.00%	100.00%
Market adjustments	(15.70%)	(22.90%)
Other invested assets funds held directly managed lag reported net asset values [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Net asset value, as reported	100.00%	100.00%
Market adjustments	0.00%	0.00%
Other invested assets funds held directly managed lag reported net asset values [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Lag reported market value | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Net asset value, as reported	100.00%	100.00%
Market adjustments	(13.60%)	(15.50%)