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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]      
Unbilled Audit Premiums $ 9,000,000wrb_IncreaseDecreaseInEarnedUnbilledAuditPremiums $ 12,000,000wrb_IncreaseDecreaseInEarnedUnbilledAuditPremiums $ 7,000,000wrb_IncreaseDecreaseInEarnedUnbilledAuditPremiums
Deposit contracts, liabilities 68,000,000us-gaap_DepositContractsLiabilities 72,000,000us-gaap_DepositContractsLiabilities  
Depreciation 44,000,000us-gaap_Depreciation 38,000,000us-gaap_Depreciation 38,000,000us-gaap_Depreciation
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment 0us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment    
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Interest payments 120,000,000us-gaap_InterestPaid 125,000,000us-gaap_InterestPaid 119,000,000us-gaap_InterestPaid
Income taxes paid 314,000,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid 186,000,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid 133,000,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid
Other Assets      
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Intangible assets, net (excluding goodwill) $ 96,000,000us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
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$ 72,000,000us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
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= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember