Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ (19,457)	$ 236,609
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Share compensation expense	4,956	4,014
Net interest (income) expense on deposit liabilities	(1,609)	1,472
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments and derivatives	(32,373)	(383,681)
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Trading Securities, related party investment fund	(1,926)	0
Net foreign exchange (gains) losses	(4,215)	10,233
Amortization of premium and accretion of discount, net	2,674	(452)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance balances receivable	(87,911)	(77,444)
Deferred acquisition costs, net	27,507	(1,473)
Unearned premiums ceded	(15,723)	(934)
Loss and loss adjustment expenses recoverable	(463)	(1,586)
Other assets	(5,757)	8,218
Interest and dividends receivable, net	(5,273)	769
Unearned premium reserves	43,815	58,299
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	(107,325)	(78,931)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(22,761)	14,173
Reinsurance balances payable	29,624	11,462
Performance fee payable to related party	0	73,210
Net cash provided by operating activities	22,285	31,820
Investing activities
Contributions to related party investment fund, including subscription receivable (1)	(88,658)	0
Purchases of investments	(3,235,659)	(2,238,167)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments	3,222,239	2,536,688
Purchases of investments to cover short sales	(853,798)	(440,242)
Proceeds from short sales of investments	800,508	735,132
Change in due to/from brokers, net	471,352	(400,566)
Decrease in securities sold under an agreement to repurchase	(29,618)	0
Net cash provided by investing activities	286,366	192,845
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of Third Point Re common shares, net of costs	0	1,504
Taxes paid on withholding shares	(74)	0
Purchases of Third Point Re common shares under share repurchase program	(133,380)	(40,864)
Increase in deposit liabilities, net	4,340	6,380
Change in total noncontrolling interests in related party, net	(97,950)	(16,780)
Net cash used in financing activities	(227,064)	(49,760)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	81,587	174,905
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	549,333	308,891
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	630,920	483,796
Supplementary information
Interest paid in cash	25,391	17,551
Income taxes paid in cash	7,026	5,996
Non-cash transfer of net investment assets to the related party investment fund (1)	$ 1,571,191	$ 0