Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Fixed maturity investments trading, at fair value - amortized cost $7,434,870 at December 31, 2017 (2016 - $6,920,690) (Notes 5 and 6)	$ 7,426,555	$ 6,891,244
Short term investments, at fair value (Notes 5 and 6)	991,863	1,368,379
Equity investments trading, at fair value (Notes 5 and 6)	388,254	383,313
Other investments, at fair value (Notes 5 and 6)	594,793	549,805
Investments in other ventures, under equity method (Note 5)	101,974	124,227
Total investments	9,503,439	9,316,968
Cash and cash equivalents	1,361,592	421,157
Premiums receivable	1,304,622	987,323
Prepaid reinsurance premiums (Note 7)	533,546	441,260
Reinsurance recoverable (Notes 7 and 8)	1,586,630	279,564
Accrued investment income	42,235	38,076
Deferred acquisition costs	426,551	335,325
Receivable for investments sold	103,145	105,841
Other assets	121,226	175,382
Goodwill and other intangible assets (Note 4)	243,145	251,186
Total assets	15,226,131	12,352,082
Liabilities
Reserve for claims and claim expenses (Note 8)	5,080,408	2,848,294
Unearned premiums	1,477,609	1,231,573
Debt (Note 9)	989,623	948,663
Reinsurance balances payable	989,090	673,983
Payable for investments purchased	208,749	305,714
Other liabilities	792,771	301,684
Total liabilities	9,538,250	6,309,911
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 20)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (Note 10)	1,296,506	1,175,594
Shareholders’ Equity (Note 12)
Preference shares: $1.00 par value – 16,000,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 (2016 – 16,000,000)	400,000	400,000
Common shares: $1.00 par value – 40,023,789 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 (2016 – 41,187,413)	40,024	41,187
Additional paid-in capital	37,355	216,558
Accumulated other comprehensive income	224	1,133
Retained earnings	3,913,772	4,207,699
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to RenaissanceRe	4,391,375	4,866,577
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and shareholders’ equity	$ 15,226,131	$ 12,352,082