Stockholders' Equity - Dividend Restrictions (Details) - USD ($)			1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 01, 2022	Oct. 21, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Class A
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends declared and paid					$ 1,237,000	$ 1,237,000	$ 1,237,000
Class B
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends declared and paid					$ 36,000	36,000	$ 36,000
National Western Life Insurance Company:
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Percentage of statutory surplus (percent)					10.00%
Maximum dividend payment which may be paid without prior approval					$ 66,500,000
National Western Life Insurance Company: | Dividend Declared
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends declared and paid					2,000,000	0
National Western Life Insurance Company: | Dividend Paid
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends declared and paid					$ 2,000,000	0
Ozark National Life Insurance Company:
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Percentage of statutory surplus (percent)					10.00%
Maximum dividend payment which may be paid without prior approval					$ 21,600,000
Ozark National Life Insurance Company: | Dividend Declared
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends declared and paid					0	0
Ozark National Life Insurance Company: | Dividend Paid
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends declared and paid					0	0
NIS
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Maximum dividend payment					13,600,000
NIS | Dividend Declared
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends declared and paid					0	0
NIS | Dividend Paid
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends declared and paid					$ 0	$ 0
National Western Life Group Inc | Class A
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, dividends declared (in dollars per share)		$ 0.36		$ 0.36
Common stock, dividends paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36		$ 0.36
National Western Life Group Inc | Class B
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, dividends declared (in dollars per share)		$ 0.18		$ 0.18
Common stock, dividends paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.18