UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parentheticals) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Amortized cost of fixed maturities	$ 26,150,520	$ 25,771,715
Cost of equity securities	554,962	480,685
Amortized cost of short-term investments	323,039	359,378
Fair value of held to maturity securities	$ 3,222,900	$ 2,895,688
Ordinary shares, shares authorized (in shares)	999,990,000	999,990,000
Ordinary shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	300,580,557	315,645,796
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (in shares)	300,580,557	315,645,796