Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets
Fixed maturity investments trading, at fair value - amortized cost $8,163,962 at December 31, 2018 (2017 - $7,434,870) (Notes 4 and 5)	$ 8,088,870	$ 7,426,555
Short term investments, at fair value (Notes 4 and 5)	2,586,520	991,863
Equity investments trading, at fair value (Notes 4 and 5)	310,252	388,254
Other investments, at fair value (Notes 4 and 5)	784,933	594,793
Investments in other ventures, under equity method (Note 4)	115,172	101,974
Total investments	11,885,747	9,503,439
Cash and cash equivalents	1,107,922	1,361,592
Premiums receivable	1,537,188	1,304,622
Prepaid reinsurance premiums (Note 6)	616,185	533,546
Reinsurance recoverable (Notes 6 and 7)	2,372,221	1,586,630
Accrued investment income	51,311	42,235
Deferred acquisition costs	476,661	426,551
Receivable for investments sold	256,416	103,145
Other assets	135,127	121,226
Goodwill and other intangible assets (Note 3)	237,418	243,145
Total assets	18,676,196	15,226,131
Liabilities
Reserve for claims and claim expenses (Note 7)	6,076,271	5,080,408
Unearned premiums	1,716,021	1,477,609
Debt (Note 8)	991,127	989,623
Reinsurance balances payable	1,902,056	989,090
Payable for investments purchased	380,332	208,749
Other liabilities	513,609	792,771
Total liabilities	11,579,416	9,538,250
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 19)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (Note 9)	2,051,700	1,296,506
Shareholders’ Equity (Note 11)
Preference shares: $1.00 par value – 16,010,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 (2017 – 16,000,000)	650,000	400,000
Common shares: $1.00 par value – 42,207,390 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 (2017 – 40,023,789)	42,207	40,024
Additional paid-in capital	296,099	37,355
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,433)	224
Retained earnings	4,058,207	3,913,772
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to RenaissanceRe	5,045,080	4,391,375
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and shareholders’ equity	$ 18,676,196	$ 15,226,131