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Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Securities in continuous unrealized loss position fair value $ 2,895,204,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue $ 3,441,075,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue
Securities in continuous unrealized loss position, aggregate losses accumulated In AOCI 69,142,000wrb_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLossesAccumulatedInAOCI 117,453,000wrb_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLossesAccumulatedInAOCI
Loans and Leases Receivable, Other, Allowance 3,000,000us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableOtherAllowance 2,000,000us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableOtherAllowance
Preferred stocks    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Securities in unrealized loss positions 6us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
 
Securities in continuous unrealized loss position fair value 49,774,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
33,159,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
Securities in continuous unrealized loss position, aggregate losses accumulated In AOCI 4,165,000wrb_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLossesAccumulatedInAOCI
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
6,319,000wrb_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLossesAccumulatedInAOCI
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
Common stocks    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Securities in unrealized loss positions 2us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
 
Securities in continuous unrealized loss position fair value 15,929,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
Securities in continuous unrealized loss position, aggregate losses accumulated In AOCI $ 5,453,000wrb_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLossesAccumulatedInAOCI
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
$ 0wrb_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLossesAccumulatedInAOCI
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember