Fair Value - Fair Value Hierarchy (Details) - Recurring - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		$ 5,784,493	$ 4,555,092
Liabilities measured at fair value		0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Contingent consideration liability
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value		0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Securities sold but not yet purchased
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value	[1]	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Derivative instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value		0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed maturities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	3,360,752	2,691,575
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed maturities | Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed maturities | Mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed maturities | Municipal bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed maturities | Commercial mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed maturities | US government and government agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	3,360,752	2,691,575
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed maturities | Non-US government securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed maturities | Asset backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		463,015	529,695
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Short-term investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		906,191	608,862
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Other investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		170,402	112,313
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Other investments at fair value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		170,402	112,313
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Derivative instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair value option
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		884,133	612,647
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair value option | Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair value option | Mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair value option | US government and government agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		209,583	197,486
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair value option | Non-US government securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair value option | Asset backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair value option | Short-term investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		524,167	309,127
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair value option | Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		57,523	25,328
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair value option | Other investments fair value option
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		92,860	80,706
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		13,103,500	13,559,270
Liabilities measured at fair value		(104,277)	(59,206)
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Contingent consideration liability
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Securities sold but not yet purchased
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value	[1]	(69,273)	(33,157)
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Derivative instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value		(35,004)	(26,049)
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed maturities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	10,901,957	11,435,710
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed maturities | Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	4,250,841	4,374,029
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed maturities | Mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	331,082	490,093
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed maturities | Municipal bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	2,618,827	3,713,434
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed maturities | Commercial mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	521,272	536,051
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed maturities | US government and government agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	64,444	112,965
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed maturities | Non-US government securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	1,375,796	1,096,440
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed maturities | Asset backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	1,739,695	1,112,698
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		4,855	2,985
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Short-term investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		8,165	3,143
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other investments at fair value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Derivative instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		30,215	28,410
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair value option
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		2,158,308	2,089,022
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair value option | Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		749,399	790,935
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair value option | Mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		19,812	18,624
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair value option | US government and government agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair value option | Non-US government securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		75,084	61,747
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair value option | Asset backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		16,291	30,324
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair value option | Short-term investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		3,217	64,542
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair value option | Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		19,392	2,314
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair value option | Other investments fair value option
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		1,275,113	1,120,536
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		36,570	54,633
Liabilities measured at fair value		(57,246)	(122,350)
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Contingent consideration liability
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value		(57,246)	(122,350)
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Securities sold but not yet purchased
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value	[1]	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Derivative instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed maturities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	11,570	29,633
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed maturities | Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	11,570	18,344
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed maturities | Mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed maturities | Municipal bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed maturities | Commercial mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed maturities | US government and government agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed maturities | Non-US government securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed maturities | Asset backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[2]	0	11,289
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Short-term investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Other investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Other investments at fair value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Derivative instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fair value option
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		25,000	25,000
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fair value option | Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fair value option | Mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fair value option | US government and government agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fair value option | Non-US government securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fair value option | Asset backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fair value option | Short-term investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fair value option | Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fair value option | Other investments fair value option
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		25,000	25,000
Estimated Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		19,753,614	18,919,203
Liabilities measured at fair value		(161,523)	(181,556)
Estimated Fair Value | Contingent consideration liability
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value		(57,246)	(122,350)
Estimated Fair Value | Securities sold but not yet purchased
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value	[1]	(69,273)	(33,157)
Estimated Fair Value | Derivative instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value		(35,004)	(26,049)
Estimated Fair Value | Fixed maturities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		14,274,279	14,156,918
Estimated Fair Value | Fixed maturities | Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		4,262,411	4,392,373
Estimated Fair Value | Fixed maturities | Mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		331,082	490,093
Estimated Fair Value | Fixed maturities | Municipal bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		2,618,827	3,713,434
Estimated Fair Value | Fixed maturities | Commercial mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		521,272	536,051
Estimated Fair Value | Fixed maturities | US government and government agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		3,425,196	2,804,540
Estimated Fair Value | Fixed maturities | Non-US government securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		1,375,796	1,096,440
Estimated Fair Value | Fixed maturities | Asset backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		1,739,695	1,123,987
Estimated Fair Value | Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		467,870	532,680
Estimated Fair Value | Short-term investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		914,356	612,005
Estimated Fair Value | Other investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		248,661	167,970
Estimated Fair Value | Other investments at fair value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		170,402	112,313
Estimated Fair Value | Other investments measured at net asset value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[3]	78,259	55,657
Estimated Fair Value | Derivative instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		30,215	28,410
Estimated Fair Value | Fair value option
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		3,818,233	3,421,220
Estimated Fair Value | Fair value option | Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		749,399	790,935
Estimated Fair Value | Fair value option | Mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		19,812	18,624
Estimated Fair Value | Fair value option | US government and government agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		209,583	197,486
Estimated Fair Value | Fair value option | Non-US government securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		75,084	61,747
Estimated Fair Value | Fair value option | Asset backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		16,291	30,324
Estimated Fair Value | Fair value option | Short-term investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		527,384	373,669
Estimated Fair Value | Fair value option | Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		76,915	27,642
Estimated Fair Value | Fair value option | Other investments fair value option
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value		1,392,973	1,226,242
Estimated Fair Value | Fair value option | Other investments measured at net asset value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value	[3]	$ 750,792	$ 694,551

[1] Represents the Company’s obligations to deliver securities that it did not own at the time of sale. Such amounts are included in “other liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

[2] In securities lending transactions, the Company receives collateral in excess of the fair value of the securities pledged. For purposes of this table, the Company has excluded the collateral received under securities lending, at fair value and included the securities pledged under securities lending, at fair value.

[3] In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets.