Fair Value Measurements (Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands | Sep. 30, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Total fixed maturity investments | $ 3,837,638 | $ 4,116,697 |
| Short-term investments | 1,557,937 | 1,110,364 |
| Equity investments trading | 45,607 | |
| Other investments | 736,757 | 787,548 |
| Other secured assets | 14,250 | |
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | 20,513 | 63,019 |
| Total assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis | 6,198,452 | 6,091,878 |
U.S. Treasuries [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 428,865 | 761,461 |
U.S. Treasuries [Member] | Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 428,865 | 761,461 |
Agencies [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 127,063 | 216,963 |
Agencies [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 127,063 | 216,963 |
Non-U.S. Government (Sovereign Debt) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 402,288 | 184,387 |
Non-U.S. Government (Sovereign Debt) [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 402,288 | 184,387 |
FDIC Guaranteed Corporate [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 183,314 | 388,468 |
FDIC Guaranteed Corporate [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 183,314 | 388,468 |
Non-U.S. Government-Backed Corporate [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 594,897 | 357,504 |
Non-U.S. Government-Backed Corporate [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 594,897 | 357,504 |
Corporate [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 1,294,442 | 1,512,411 |
Corporate [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 1,273,528 | 1,490,626 |
Corporate [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 20,914 | 21,785 |
Agency Mortgage-Backed [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 363,814 | 401,807 |
Agency Mortgage-Backed [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 363,814 | 401,807 |
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 104,541 | 34,149 |
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 104,541 | 34,149 |
Commercial Mortgage-Backed [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 318,805 | 219,440 |
Commercial Mortgage-Backed [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 318,805 | 219,440 |
Asset-Backed [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 19,609 | 40,107 |
Asset-Backed [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 19,609 | 40,107 |
Private Equity Funds [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 345,986 | 347,556 |
Private Equity Funds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 345,986 | 347,556 |
Senior Secured Bank Loan Funds [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 243,766 | 166,106 |
Senior Secured Bank Loan Funds [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 231,251 | 158,386 |
Senior Secured Bank Loan Funds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 12,515 | 7,720 |
Catastrophe Bonds [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 85,800 | 123,961 |
Catastrophe Bonds [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 85,619 | 123,961 |
Catastrophe Bonds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 181 | |
Non-U.S. Fixed Income Funds [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 29,440 | 80,224 |
Non-U.S. Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 29,440 | 80,224 |
Hedge Funds [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 26,810 | 41,005 |
Hedge Funds [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 26,810 | 41,005 |
Miscellaneous Investments [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 4,955 | 28,696 |
Miscellaneous Investments [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 21,870 | |
Miscellaneous Investments [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | ||
| Other investments | 4,955 | 6,826 |
Platinum Warrants [Member] | ||
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | 44,925 | |
Platinum Warrants [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | 44,925 | |
Assumed And Ceded (Re)Insurance Contracts [Member] | ||
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | 4,418 | 1,772 |
Assumed And Ceded (Re)Insurance Contracts [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | ||
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | 4,418 | 1,772 |
Derivatives Assets [Member] | ||
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | 2,720 | 2,693 |
Derivatives Assets [Member] | Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | ||
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | (773) | (51) |
Derivatives Assets [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | 950 | 6,245 |
Derivatives Assets [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | ||
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | 2,543 | (3,501) |
Other [Member] | ||
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | 13,375 | 13,629 |
Other [Member] | Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | ||
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | (4,241) | (4,599) |
Other [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | ||
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | 17,616 | 18,228 |
Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 428,865 | 761,461 |
| Equity investments trading | 45,607 | |
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | (5,014) | (4,650) |
| Total assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis | 469,458 | 756,811 |
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 3,387,859 | 3,333,451 |
| Short-term investments | 1,557,937 | 1,110,364 |
| Other investments | 373,120 | 425,446 |
| Other secured assets | 14,250 | |
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | 950 | 51,170 |
| Total assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis | 5,319,866 | 4,934,681 |
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | ||
| Total fixed maturity investments | 20,914 | 21,785 |
| Other investments | 363,637 | 362,102 |
| Total other assets and (liabilities) | 24,577 | 16,499 |
| Total assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis | $ 409,128 | $ 400,386 |