CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Ordinary shares	Additional Paid in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Non-controlling Interest in Equity of Consolidated Subsidiaries	Exclude Life Funds Withheld Assets	Exclude Life Funds Withheld Assets Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Life Funds Withheld Assets	Life Funds Withheld Assets Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
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	1,851,046
Buybacks of ordinary shares		(125)	(370,395)		(98,451)
Exercise of stock options		5
Exercise of stock options, net of tax			9,972
Share based compensation expense			60,442		(7,177)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax							$ (530,030)	$ (530,030)	$ (421,604)	$ (421,604)
Cumulative adjustments recorded to value of future policy benefit reserves, amount	$ 170,688			170,688
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on affiliate and other investments, net of tax	(6,074)			(6,074)
Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax	18,545			18,545
Change in underfunded pension liability	(3,852)			(3,852)
Change in value of cash flow hedge	(200)			(200)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(25,315)			(25,315)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	1,207,152				1,207,152
Dividends on ordinary shares					(211,814)
Non-controlling interests – contributions						23,610
Non-controlling interests - distributions						(19,001)
Non-controlling interests - acquired						562,285
Non-controlling interests - redeemed						0
Non-controlling interests - net income (loss)						7,466
Non-controlling interest share in change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)						1,009
Balance, end 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	31
Buybacks of ordinary shares		(302)	(912,282)		(138,466)
Exercise of stock options		8
Exercise of stock options, net of tax			9,845
Share based compensation expense			60,742		(3,646)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax							(72,638)	(72,638)	(4,502)	(4,502)
Cumulative adjustments recorded to value of future policy benefit reserves, amount	62,295			62,295
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on affiliate and other investments, net of tax	(57,820)			(57,820)
Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax	6,550			6,550
Change in underfunded pension liability	(246)			(246)
Change in value of cash flow hedge	(182)			(182)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	95,473			95,473
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	440,968				440,968
Dividends on ordinary shares					(224,411)
Non-controlling interests – contributions						47,524
Non-controlling interests - distributions						(9,028)
Non-controlling interests - acquired						0
Non-controlling interests - redeemed						0
Non-controlling interests - net income (loss)						7,309
Non-controlling interest share in change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)						(1,022)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2016	12,960,679	2,669	8,068,503	715,546	2,151,794	2,022,167
Issuance of ordinary shares		11	17
Buybacks of ordinary shares	(571,600)	(138)	(416,630)		(154,847)
Exercise of stock options		18
Exercise of stock options, net of tax			50,616
Share based compensation expense			55,434		(6,161)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax							$ 176,098	$ 176,098	$ (51,983)	$ (51,983)
Cumulative adjustments recorded to value of future policy benefit reserves, amount	27,184			27,184
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on affiliate and other investments, net of tax	(11,250)			(11,250)
Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax	7,425			7,425
Change in underfunded pension liability	2,531			2,531
Change in value of cash flow hedge	(192)			(192)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	24,072			24,072
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	(560,398)				(560,398)
Dividends on ordinary shares					(232,002)
Non-controlling interests – contributions						59,583
Non-controlling interests - distributions						(26,092)
Non-controlling interests - acquired						0
Non-controlling interests - redeemed						(431,282)
Non-controlling interests - net income (loss)						(10,557)
Non-controlling interest share in change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)						(816)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 11,461,320	$ 2,560	$ 7,757,940	$ 889,431	$ 1,198,386	$ 1,613,003