UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Excluding Life Funds Withheld Assets	Life Funds Withheld Assets	Common 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	1,856,253
Buybacks of ordinary shares				(78)	(228,857)				(63,334)
Exercise of stock options				4
Exercise of stock options					7,900
Share-based compensation expense					42,009				(7,163)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax		$ (356,248)	$ (317,500)				$ (356,248)	$ (317,500)
Change in adjustments related to future policy benefit reserves, net of tax	$ 127,365					127,365
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on affiliate and other investments, net of tax	24,293					24,293
Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax	13,570					13,570
Change in underfunded pension liability, net of tax	(261)					(261)
Change in value of cash flow hedge	119					119
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(20,714)					(20,714)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	978,602								978,602
Dividends on ordinary shares									(151,997)
Non-controlling interests - contributions										10,292
Non-controlling interests - distributions										(17,519)
Non-controlling interests - acquired										562,285
Non-controlling interests										5,206
Non-controlling interest share in change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)										0
Balance, end of year at Sep. 30, 2015	13,900,508			2,993	9,036,407	955,082			1,943,747	1,962,279
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	23
Buybacks of ordinary shares	(905,100)			(262)	(790,541)				(115,334)
Exercise of stock options				3
Exercise of stock options					5,731
Share-based compensation expense					39,761				(3,595)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax		$ 530,344	$ 206,480				$ 530,344	$ 206,480
Change in adjustments related to future policy benefit reserves, net of tax	27,820					27,820
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on affiliate and other investments, net of tax	(31,091)					(31,091)
Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax	5,580					5,580
Change in underfunded pension liability, net of tax	3,088					3,088
Change in value of cash flow hedge	(134)					(134)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	91,102					91,102
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	136,268								136,268
Dividends on ordinary shares									(170,172)
Non-controlling interests - contributions										6,393
Non-controlling interests - distributions										(7,958)
Non-controlling interests - acquired										0
Non-controlling interests										5,916
Non-controlling interest share in change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)										(1,021)
Balance, end of year at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 13,592,880			$ 2,704	$ 8,165,141	$ 1,519,805			$ 1,924,516	$ 1,980,714