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Income Taxes (Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Deferred tax asset:    
Loss reserve discounting $ 77,216,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsLossReserves $ 87,394,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsLossReserves
Unearned premiums 165,075,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsUnearnedPremiumsReserve 149,107,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsUnearnedPremiumsReserve
Other-than-temporary impairments 45,367,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsImpairmentLosses 49,483,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsImpairmentLosses
Restricted stock units 60,061,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost 52,671,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost
Other 101,131,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther 92,698,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther
Gross deferred tax asset 448,850,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross 431,353,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Less valuation allowance (1,335,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Deferred tax asset 447,515,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet 431,353,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Deferred tax liability:    
Amortization of intangibles 22,747,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets 11,886,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets
Deferred policy acquisition costs 152,001,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseDeferredPolicyAcquisitionCost 136,635,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseDeferredPolicyAcquisitionCost
Unrealized investment gains 175,111,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUnrealizedGainsOnTradingSecurities 148,215,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUnrealizedGainsOnTradingSecurities
Other 135,108,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther 114,497,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther
Deferred tax liability 484,967,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities 411,233,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities
Net deferred tax asset (liability) (37,452,000)wrb_DeferredTaxAssetLiabilityNet 20,120,000wrb_DeferredTaxAssetLiabilityNet
Current Federal income taxes 67,623,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivable 24,737,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivable
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]    
Taxes Payable, Current   24,737,000us-gaap_TaxesPayableCurrent
Tax Credit Carryforward, Valuation Allowance 1,335,000us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardValuationAllowance  
Foreign Tax Authority    
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]    
Operating loss carryforwards 559,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		  
Foreign Tax Authority (expiration 2031) [Member]    
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]    
Operating loss carryforwards 6,000,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= wrb_ForeignTaxAuthorityexpiration2031Member		  
Foreign Tax Authority (No expiration) [Member] [Member]    
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]    
Operating loss carryforwards $ 12,000,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= wrb_ForeignTaxAuthorityNoexpirationMemberMember