Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning of period	$ 465,631
Other comprehensive income	(276,212)		110,857	78,233
Ending balance	189,391		465,631
Income before income taxes	698,888		701,928	513,086
Other operating costs and expenses	2,000,684		1,799,623	1,626,526
Federal and foreign income taxes	(193,587)		(191,285)	(121,945)
Net income before noncontrolling interests	505,301		510,643	391,141
Unrealized investment gains, before tax	(401,637)
Currency translation adjustments, before tax	(23,848)
Net pension asset, before tax	13,387		(1,575)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(412,098)
Unrealized investment gains, tax	140,573
Currency translation adjustments, tax	0
Net pension asset, tax	(4,687)
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax	135,886
Unrealized investment gains, net of tax	(261,064)
Change in unrealized translation adjustments	(23,848)		24,563	(18,751)
Net pension asset, net of tax	8,700
Unrealized Investment gains (losses)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning of period	517,658
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(193,188)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(67,876)
Other comprehensive income	(261,064)
Unrealized investment gain related to non-controlling interest	(28)
Ending balance	256,566
Unrealized Investment gains (losses) | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net investment gains	(104,425)	[1]
Federal and foreign income taxes	36,549	[2]
Net income before noncontrolling interests	(67,876)
Currency translation adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning of period	(36,676)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(23,848)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0
Other comprehensive income	(23,848)
Ending balance	(60,524)		(36,676)
Change in unrealized translation adjustments	(23,848)		24,563	(18,751)
Currency translation adjustments | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Income before income taxes	0
Federal and foreign income taxes	0
Net income before noncontrolling interests	0
Net pension asset
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning of period	(15,351)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	8,700
Other comprehensive income	8,700
Ending balance	(6,651)
Net pension asset | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Other operating costs and expenses	13,387	[3]
Federal and foreign income taxes	(4,687)	[2]
Net income before noncontrolling interests	8,700
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning of period	465,631
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(217,036)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(59,176)
Other comprehensive income	(276,212)
Unrealized investment gain related to non-controlling interest	(28)
Ending balance	189,391
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Income before income taxes	(91,038)
Federal and foreign income taxes	31,862
Net income before noncontrolling interests	$ (59,176)

[1] Net investment gains in the consolidated statements of operations.

[2] Income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

[3] Other operating costs and expenses in the consolidated statements of income.