Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant (Condensed Statements Of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net investment income	$ 74,355	$ 76,342	$ 74,206	$ 81,242	$ 63,017	$ 78,325	$ 84,459	$ 87,132	$ 306,145	$ 312,933	$ 350,344
Net realized capital gains (losses)	37,029	95,943	82,589	176,141	165,628	(179,036)	(68,184)	40,476	391,702	(41,116)	65,291
Other income (expense)									12,136	(11,745)	12,074
Net income (loss) of subsidiaries									38,579	42,047	45,463
Total revenues									2,483,881	2,053,927	2,241,532
Interest expense									50,746	50,763	54,553
Corporate expenses									8,764	6,073	5,867
Total claims and expenses	566,325	359,279	428,041	377,402	822,846	435,649	432,337	679,757	1,790,557	2,427,425	2,012,763
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES									693,324	(373,498)	228,769
Income tax expense (benefit)									172,995	(170,677)	(36,628)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	23,967	155,985	125,653	214,724	(114,356)	261	8,807	(97,533)	520,329	(202,821)	265,397
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) ("URA(D)") on securities arising during the period									9,390	22,049	(51,265)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized losses (gains) included in net income (loss)									633	20,240	23,029
Total URA(D) on securities arising during the period									10,023	42,289	(28,236)
Foreign currency translation adjustments									7,030	(2,805)	27,039
Pension adjustments									(6,976)	(29,452)	(1,815)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									10,077	10,032	(3,012)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									530,406	(192,789)	262,385
Everest Re Group, Ltd. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net investment income									21,526	21,619	15,436
Net realized capital gains (losses)									254,680	(1,789)	25,070
Other income (expense)									(371)	(191)	(227)
Net income (loss) of subsidiaries									377,963	(181,912)	245,753
Total revenues									653,798	(162,273)	286,032
Interest expense									50,685	50,736	54,496
Corporate expenses									7,108	3,353	3,462
Total claims and expenses									57,793	54,089	57,958
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES									596,005	(216,362)	228,074
Income tax expense (benefit)									75,676	(13,541)	(37,323)
NET INCOME (LOSS)									520,329	(202,821)	265,397
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) ("URA(D)") on securities arising during the period									9,390	22,049	(51,265)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized losses (gains) included in net income (loss)									633	20,240	23,029
Total URA(D) on securities arising during the period									10,023	42,289	(28,236)
Foreign currency translation adjustments									7,030	(2,805)	27,039
Pension adjustments									(6,976)	(29,452)	(1,815)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									10,077	10,032	(3,012)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									$ 530,406	$ (192,789)	$ 262,385