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v2.4.1.9

Goodwill - Changes in Carrying Value of Goodwill by Operating Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |
Beginning balance | $ 2,006,173 us-gaap_Goodwill | $ 1,711,514 us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill of acquired businesses | 513,951 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod | 296,817 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Goodwill disposed of relating to sales of businesses | (59,513)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit | (2,158)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
Ending balance | 2,460,611 us-gaap_Goodwill | 2,006,173 us-gaap_Goodwill
Retail [Member] |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |
Beginning balance | 1,131,257 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember | 876,219 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember
Goodwill of acquired businesses | 86,454 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember | 257,196 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember
Goodwill disposed of relating to sales of businesses | (3,696)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember | (2,158)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember
Ending balance | 1,214,015 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember | 1,131,257 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember
National Programs [Member] |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |
Beginning balance | 467,144 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_NationalProgramsMember | 439,180 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_NationalProgramsMember
Goodwill of acquired businesses | 420,063 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_NationalProgramsMember | 27,964 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_NationalProgramsMember
Goodwill disposed of relating to sales of businesses | (9,564)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_NationalProgramsMember |
Ending balance | 877,643 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_NationalProgramsMember | 467,144 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_NationalProgramsMember
Wholesale Brokerage [Member] |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |
Beginning balance | 287,242 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_WholesaleBrokerageMember | 288,054 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_WholesaleBrokerageMember
Goodwill of acquired businesses | 7,673 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_WholesaleBrokerageMember | (812)us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_WholesaleBrokerageMember
Goodwill disposed of relating to sales of businesses | (46,253)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_WholesaleBrokerageMember |
Ending balance | 248,662 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_WholesaleBrokerageMember | 287,242 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_WholesaleBrokerageMember
Services [Member] |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |
Beginning balance | 120,530 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_ServicesMember | 108,061 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_ServicesMember
Goodwill of acquired businesses | (239)us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_ServicesMember | 12,469 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_ServicesMember
Ending balance | $ 120,291 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_ServicesMember | $ 120,530 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_ServicesMember

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- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
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- Details
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- Definition Amount of divestiture of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
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- Details
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- Details
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