Management, performance and founders fees (Details) (USD $)							3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Third Point Advisors LLC	Sep. 30, 2013 TP LLC and Various Third Point Re Founders	Sep. 30, 2013 Performance fees due under the Investment Agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 Performance fees due under the Investment Agreement	Sep. 30, 2013 Net investment income	Sep. 30, 2012 Net investment income	Sep. 30, 2013 Net investment income	Sep. 30, 2012 Net investment income	Sep. 30, 2013 Net investment income Third Point LLC	Sep. 30, 2012 Net investment income Third Point LLC	Sep. 30, 2013 Net investment income Third Point LLC	Sep. 30, 2012 Net investment income Third Point LLC	Sep. 30, 2013 Net investment income Founders	Sep. 30, 2012 Net investment income Founders	Sep. 30, 2013 Net investment income Founders	Sep. 30, 2012 Net investment income Founders	Sep. 30, 2013 Net investment income Third Point Advisors LLC	Sep. 30, 2012 Net investment income Third Point Advisors LLC	Sep. 30, 2013 Net investment income Third Point Advisors LLC	Sep. 30, 2012 Net investment income Third Point Advisors LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual investment performance fee			20.00%
Annual investment management fee				2.00%
Investment fee expenses							$ 19,558,000	$ 15,766,000	$ 57,750,000	$ 27,537,000	$ 978,000	$ 593,000	$ 2,497,000	$ 1,757,000	$ 5,545,000	$ 3,357,000	$ 14,149,000	$ 9,955,000	$ 13,035,000	$ 11,816,000	$ 41,104,000	$ 15,825,000
Performance fee payable to related party	40,264,000	0			40,300,000
Non-controlling interests related to the performance fee payable to Third Point Advisors LLC						$ 33,900,000