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Retirement Benefits Retirement Benefits (narrative) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation $ 59,400,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation $ 64,317,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation $ 64,632,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation $ 56,787,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid   285,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid 1,426,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid  
Pension Expense 9,994,000us-gaap_PensionExpense 13,357,000us-gaap_PensionExpense 7,696,000us-gaap_PensionExpense  
Supplemental Benefit Agreement (SBA) [Member]        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid $ 4,600,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= wrb_SupplementalBenefitAgreementSBAMember
$ 300,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= wrb_SupplementalBenefitAgreementSBAMember