CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Amortized cost of fixed maturities, available for sale	$ 30,157,581	$ 29,587,656
Cost of equity securities, available for sale	638,455	996,610
Amortized cost of short-term investments, available for sale	816,638	626,142
Amortized cost of fixed maturities, trading	1,946,501	1,548,178
Amortized cost of short term investments, trading	14,969	9,536
Future policy benefit reserves recoverable from GCLR	$ 3,191,584	$ 3,072,615
Ordinary shares, shares authorized (in shares)	999,990,000	999,990,000
Common shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	256,033,895	266,889,127
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (in shares)	256,033,895	266,889,127