Investments (Changes in Net Unrealized Gains on Investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities held for investment carried at amortized cost	$ (17,326)	$ 1,607	$ (10,227)	$ 5,644
Investments carried at fair value, available for sale	(1,547,144)	716,773	(1,026,936)	1,693,891
Adjustment for effect on other balance sheet accounts:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements	770,285	(372,717)	515,209	(909,469)
Deferred income tax asset/liability	271,900	(120,420)	179,105	(274,547)
Total adjustment for effect on other balance sheet accounts	1,042,185	(493,137)	694,314	(1,184,016)
Change in net unrealized gains on investments carried at fair value	(504,959)	223,636	(332,622)	509,875
Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investments carried at fair value, available for sale	(1,547,155)	716,779	(1,026,989)	1,693,910
Equity Securities [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investments carried at fair value, available for sale	$ 11	$ (6)	$ 53	$ (19)

No definition available.

Name:	ael_AdjustmentForEffectOnOtherBalanceSheetAccountsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Adjustments for Assumed Changes in Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements Due to Net Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available for Sale Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_AdjustmentsForAssumedChangesInAmortizationOfDeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostsAndDeferredSalesInducements
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Change in Net Unrealized Gain or Loss, Fixed Maturity Securities, Held for Investment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_ChangeInNetUnrealizedGainOrLossFixedMaturitySecuritiesHeldForInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the aggregate of the adjustments for the effect on other balance sheet accounts related to the pretax change in net unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities that has been included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders' equity, during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_ChangesNetUnrealizedGainsOrLossesForAdjustmentsInDeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostsDeferredSalesInducementsDeferredTaxValuationAllowancesAndDeferredIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the pretax change in net unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities that has been included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders' equity, during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesChangeInNetUnrealizedHoldingGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The change in unrealized holding gain (loss), net of tax, on available-for-sale securities included in a separate component of shareholders' equity during the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesChangeInNetUnrealizedHoldingGainLossNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the tax effects occurring during the period which are related to the net unrealized gain (loss) resulting from changes in the fair [carrying] value during the period of available-for-sale securities. Such tax affects would have been charged or credited directly to other comprehensive income or to related components of shareholders' equity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18498875&loc=d3e39076-109324

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesIncomeTaxExpenseOnChangeInUnrealizedHoldingGainOrLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- 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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentHoldingsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: