Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning of period		$ 183,550
Other comprehensive loss		(250,286)	$ (5,808)	$ (276,212)
Ending balance		(66,698)	183,550
Income before income taxes		732,030	952,196	698,888
Other operating costs and expenses		2,289,750	2,157,456	2,000,684
Federal and foreign income taxes		(227,923)	(302,593)	(193,587)
Net income before noncontrolling interests		504,107	649,603	505,301
Unrealized investment gains, before tax		(192,186)	72,889
Currency translation adjustments, before tax		(124,744)	(62,125)
Net pension asset, before tax		0	10,232
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax		(316,930)	20,996
Unrealized investment gains, tax		66,644	(23,223)
Currency translation adjustments, tax		0	0
Net pension asset, tax		0	(3,581)
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax		66,644	(26,804)
Unrealized investment gains, net of tax		(125,542)	49,666
Change in unrealized translation adjustments		(124,744)	(62,125)	(23,848)
Net pension asset, net of tax		0	6,651
Unrealized investment gains (losses)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning of period		306,199	256,566
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(119,994)	98,294
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		(5,548)	(48,628)
Other comprehensive loss		(125,542)	49,666
Unrealized investment gain related to non-controlling interest		38	(33)
Ending balance		180,695	306,199	256,566
Unrealized investment gains (losses) | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net investment gains	[1]	(8,535)	(74,812)
Federal and foreign income taxes	[2]	2,987	26,184
Net income before noncontrolling interests		(5,548)	(48,628)
Currency translation adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning of period		(122,649)	(60,524)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(124,744)	(62,125)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		0	0
Other comprehensive loss		(124,744)	(62,125)
Unrealized investment gain related to non-controlling interest		0	0
Ending balance		(247,393)	(122,649)	(60,524)
Change in unrealized translation adjustments		(124,744)	(62,125)	(23,848)
Currency translation adjustments | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Income before income taxes		0	0
Federal and foreign income taxes		0	0
Net income before noncontrolling interests		0	0
Net pension asset
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning of period		0	(6,651)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		0	6,651
Other comprehensive loss		0	6,651
Unrealized investment gain related to non-controlling interest		0	0
Ending balance		0	0	(6,651)
Net pension asset | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Other operating costs and expenses	[3]	0	10,232
Federal and foreign income taxes	[2]	0	(3,581)
Net income before noncontrolling interests		0	6,651
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning of period		183,550	189,391
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(244,738)	36,169
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		(5,548)	(41,977)
Other comprehensive loss		(250,286)	(5,808)
Unrealized investment gain related to non-controlling interest		38	(33)
Ending balance		(66,698)	183,550	$ 189,391
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Income before income taxes		(8,535)	(64,580)
Federal and foreign income taxes		2,987	22,603
Net income before noncontrolling interests		$ (5,548)	$ (41,977)

[1] Net investment gains in the consolidated statements of income.

[2] Income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income.

[3] Other operating costs and expenses in the consolidated statements of income.