Related Party Transactions (Reinsurance by Counterparty) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverable	$ 22,390,247	$ 20,594,371
UPARC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverable	351,142	407,209
PAR U
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverable	9,622,194	9,147,870
PURC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverable	2,007,832	1,564,913
PARCC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverable	2,522,752	2,499,567
PAR Term
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverable	1,174,462	1,001,181
Term Re
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverable	238,601	97,099
Prudential Insurance
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverable	220,580	188,466
Pruco Re
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverable	5,055,044	4,522,665
Prudential of Taiwan
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverable	1,151,669	1,157,881
Unaffiliated
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverable	$ 45,971	$ 7,520