UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parentheticals) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Amortized cost of fixed maturities	$ 28,418,355	$ 27,111,874
Cost of equity securities	848,171	903,201
Short-term investments, amortized cost	284,898	455,470
Fair value of held to maturity securities	0	3,131,235
Future policy benefit reserves recoverable	$ 4,560,388	$ 0
Ordinary shares, shares authorized (in shares)	999,990,000	999,990,000
Ordinary shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	260,249,801	278,253,308
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (in shares)	260,249,801	278,253,308