XML 38 R50.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT 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	$ 2,006,173us-gaap_Goodwill	$ 1,711,514us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill of acquired businesses	513,951us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	296,817us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Goodwill disposed of relating to sales of businesses	(59,513)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit	(2,158)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
Ending balance	2,460,611us-gaap_Goodwill	2,006,173us-gaap_Goodwill
Retail [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning balance	1,131,257us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember	876,219us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember
Goodwill of acquired businesses	86,454us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember	257,196us-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	1,214,015us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember	1,131,257us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_RetailMember
National Programs [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning balance	467,144us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_NationalProgramsMember	439,180us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_NationalProgramsMember
Goodwill of acquired businesses	420,063us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_NationalProgramsMember	27,964us-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	877,643us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_NationalProgramsMember	467,144us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_NationalProgramsMember
Wholesale Brokerage [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning balance	287,242us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_WholesaleBrokerageMember	288,054us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_WholesaleBrokerageMember
Goodwill of acquired businesses	7,673us-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	248,662us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_WholesaleBrokerageMember	287,242us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_WholesaleBrokerageMember
Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning balance	120,530us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_ServicesMember	108,061us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_ServicesMember
Goodwill of acquired businesses	(239)us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_ServicesMember	12,469us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_ServicesMember
Ending balance	$ 120,291us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_ServicesMember	$ 120,530us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bro_ServicesMember

X

- 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

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- 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

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- 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

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bro_NationalProgramsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bro_RetailMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bro_ServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bro_WholesaleBrokerageMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: