UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Excluding Life Funds Withheld Assets	Life Funds Withheld Assets	Ordinary Shares	Additional Paid in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Excluding Life Funds Withheld Assets	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Life Funds Withheld Assets	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Non-controlling Interest in Equity of Consolidated Subsidiaries
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2014				$ 2,552	$ 7,359,102	$ 1,484,458			$ 1,187,639	$ 1,402,015
Issuance of ordinary shares				515	1,851,705
Buybacks of ordinary shares				(30)	(85,796)				(26,559)
Exercise of stock options				2
Exercise of stock options					4,826
Share-based compensation expense					24,031				(7,050)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax		$ (258,590)	$ (283,931)				$ (258,590)	$ (283,931)
Change in adjustments related to future policy benefit reserves, net of tax	$ 86,684					86,684
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on affiliate and other investments, net of tax	34,687					34,687
Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax	11,433					11,433
Change in underfunded pension liability, net of tax	(354)					(354)
Change in value of cash flow hedge	107					107
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	1,680					1,680
Net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders	951,320								951,320
Dividends on ordinary shares									(91,133)
Non-controlling interests - contributions										4,659
Non-controlling interests - distributions										(15,026)
Non-controlling interests - acquired										562,285
Non-controlling interests										3,874
Non-controlling interest share in change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)										0
Balance, end of year at Jun. 30, 2015	14,205,105			3,039	9,153,868	1,076,174			2,014,217	1,957,807
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2015	13,654,463			2,947	8,910,167	686,616			2,077,349	1,977,384
Issuance of ordinary shares				16	15
Buybacks of ordinary shares	(683,500)			(196)	(591,757)				(92,433)
Exercise of stock options				1
Exercise of stock options					1,725
Share-based compensation expense					21,732				(3,572)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax		$ 555,532	$ 129,238				$ 555,532	$ 129,238
Change in adjustments related to future policy benefit reserves, net of tax	25,762					25,762
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on affiliate and other investments, net of tax	(38,548)					(38,548)
Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax	4,119					4,119
Change in underfunded pension liability, net of tax	(949)					(949)
Change in value of cash flow hedge	(87)					(87)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	46,904					46,904
Net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders	65,667								65,667
Dividends on ordinary shares									(115,060)
Non-controlling interests - contributions										1,129
Non-controlling interests - distributions										(5,180)
Non-controlling interests - acquired										0
Non-controlling interests										5,436
Non-controlling interest share in change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)										(25)
Balance, end of year at Jun. 30, 2016	$ 13,663,932			$ 2,768	$ 8,341,882	$ 1,408,587			$ 1,931,951	$ 1,978,744