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, 2015				$ 2,947	$ 8,910,167	$ 686,616			$ 2,077,349	$ 1,977,384
Issuance of common shares				15	7
Buybacks of common shares				(99)	(301,354)				(54,447)
Exercise of stock options				0
Exercise of stock options					490
Share-based compensation					(584)				(3,475)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax		$ 363,883	$ 51,990				$ 363,883	$ 51,990
Change in adjustments related to future policy benefit reserves, net of tax	$ 17,035					17,035
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on affiliate and other investments, net of tax	(9,707)					(9,707)
Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax	2,267					2,267
Change in underfunded pension liability, net of tax	(1,049)					(1,049)
Change in value of cash flow hedge	(39)					(39)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(16,439)					(16,439)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	21,885								21,885
Dividends on common shares									(58,714)
Non-controlling interests - contributions										882
Non-controlling interests - distributions										(3,030)
Non-controlling interests										3,679
Non-controlling interest share in change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)										59
Balance, end of year at Mar. 31, 2016	13,667,718			2,863	8,608,726	1,094,557			1,982,598	1,978,974
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2016	12,960,679			2,669	8,068,503	715,546			2,151,794	2,022,167
Issuance of common shares				10	8
Buybacks of common shares	(200,500)			(51)	(154,065)				(46,372)
Exercise of stock options				9
Exercise of stock options					23,287
Share-based compensation					(3,572)				(5,782)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax		$ 102,622	$ (20,108)				$ 102,622	$ (20,108)
Change in adjustments related to future policy benefit reserves, net of tax	5,132					5,132
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on affiliate and other investments, net of tax	(1,193)					(1,193)
Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax	1,442					1,442
Change in underfunded pension liability, net of tax	(357)					(357)
Change in value of cash flow hedge	(48)					(48)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	41,938					41,938
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	152,843								152,843
Dividends on common shares									(59,371)
Non-controlling interests - contributions										25
Non-controlling interests - distributions										0
Non-controlling interests										3,036
Non-controlling interest share in change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)										514
Balance, end of year at Mar. 31, 2017	$ 13,000,626			$ 2,637	$ 7,934,161	$ 844,974			$ 2,193,112	$ 2,025,742