Variable Interest Entities and Noncontrolling Interests - Redeemable noncontrolling interests (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Redeemable noncontrolling interests, beginning of period			$ 205,553
Redeemable noncontrolling interests, end of period	$ 205,736		205,736
Watford Re
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Redeemable noncontrolling interests, beginning of period	205,644	$ 205,274	205,553	$ 205,182
Accretion of preference share issuance costs	92	92	183	184
Redeemable noncontrolling interests, end of period	$ 205,736	$ 205,366	$ 205,736	$ 205,366
Cumulative redeemable preference shares \| Watford Re
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Preference shares, number of shares issued	9,065,200		9,065,200
Par value per share	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Liquidation preference per share	$ 25.00		$ 25.00

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Accretion of Issuance Costs

No definition available.

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- Definition

The per share liquidation preference (or restrictions) of nonredeemable preferred stock (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) that has a preference in involuntary liquidation considerably in excess of the par or stated value of the shares. The liquidation preference is the difference between the preference in liquidation and the par or stated values of the share.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Publisher FASB
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section S99
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-Section S99
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+ Details

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- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of preferred stock nonredeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

Total number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) issued to shareholders (includes related preferred shares that were issued, repurchased, and remain in the treasury). May be all or portion of the number of preferred shares authorized. Excludes preferred shares that are classified as debt.

+ References

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- Definition

As of the reporting date, the carrying amount of noncontrolling interests which are redeemable by the (parent) entity (1) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (2) at the option of the holder of the noncontrolling interest, or (3) upon occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the (parent) entity. The noncontrolling interest holder's ownership (or holders' ownership) may be in the form of preferred shares (regardless of class), preferred partnership units (regardless of class), preferential membership interests, or any other form of preferred equity regardless of investee entity legal form.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph 14
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-Publisher FASB
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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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