XML 30 R76.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Investment Funds (Schedule of Investment Funds) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]      
Investment funds $ 1,211,401us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments $ 1,067,495us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments  
Income 131,649us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments 67,712us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments 77,015us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Real estate      
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]      
Investment funds 466,703us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateFundsMember
378,435us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateFundsMember
 
Income 26,233us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateFundsMember
9,315us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateFundsMember
30,196us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateFundsMember
Energy      
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]      
Investment funds 152,056us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_EnergyFundMember
155,026us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_EnergyFundMember
 
Income 12,797us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_EnergyFundMember
29,739us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_EnergyFundMember
33,146us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_EnergyFundMember
Hedged equity      
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]      
Investment funds 282,335us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_HedgedEquityMember
271,575us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_HedgedEquityMember
 
Income 10,760us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_HedgedEquityMember
7,655us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_HedgedEquityMember
5,912us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_HedgedEquityMember
Other funds      
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]      
Investment funds 310,307us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_OtherFundsMember
262,459us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_OtherFundsMember
 
Income $ 81,859us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_OtherFundsMember
$ 21,003us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_OtherFundsMember
$ 7,761us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wrb_OtherFundsMember