v2.3.0.15
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 investments1,557,9371,110,364
Equity investments trading45,607 
Other investments736,757787,548
Other secured assets 14,250
Total other assets and (liabilities)20,51363,019
Total assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis6,198,4526,091,878
U.S. Treasuries [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments428,865761,461
U.S. Treasuries [Member] | Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments428,865761,461
Agencies [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments127,063216,963
Agencies [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments127,063216,963
Non-U.S. Government (Sovereign Debt) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments402,288184,387
Non-U.S. Government (Sovereign Debt) [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments402,288184,387
FDIC Guaranteed Corporate [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments183,314388,468
FDIC Guaranteed Corporate [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments183,314388,468
Non-U.S. Government-Backed Corporate [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments594,897357,504
Non-U.S. Government-Backed Corporate [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments594,897357,504
Corporate [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments1,294,4421,512,411
Corporate [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments1,273,5281,490,626
Corporate [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments20,91421,785
Agency Mortgage-Backed [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments363,814401,807
Agency Mortgage-Backed [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments363,814401,807
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments104,54134,149
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments104,54134,149
Commercial Mortgage-Backed [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments318,805219,440
Commercial Mortgage-Backed [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments318,805219,440
Asset-Backed [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments19,60940,107
Asset-Backed [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments19,60940,107
Private Equity Funds [Member]
  
Other investments345,986347,556
Private Equity Funds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
  
Other investments345,986347,556
Senior Secured Bank Loan Funds [Member]
  
Other investments243,766166,106
Senior Secured Bank Loan Funds [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Other investments231,251158,386
Senior Secured Bank Loan Funds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
  
Other investments12,5157,720
Catastrophe Bonds [Member]
  
Other investments85,800123,961
Catastrophe Bonds [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Other investments85,619123,961
Catastrophe Bonds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
  
Other investments181 
Non-U.S. Fixed Income Funds [Member]
  
Other investments29,44080,224
Non-U.S. Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Other investments29,44080,224
Hedge Funds [Member]
  
Other investments26,81041,005
Hedge Funds [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Other investments26,81041,005
Miscellaneous Investments [Member]
  
Other investments4,95528,696
Miscellaneous Investments [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Other investments 21,870
Miscellaneous Investments [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
  
Other investments4,9556,826
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)4,4181,772
Assumed And Ceded (Re)Insurance Contracts [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
  
Total other assets and (liabilities)4,4181,772
Derivatives Assets [Member]
  
Total other assets and (liabilities)2,7202,693
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)9506,245
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)13,37513,629
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)17,61618,228
Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments428,865761,461
Equity investments trading45,607 
Total other assets and (liabilities)(5,014)(4,650)
Total assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis469,458756,811
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments3,387,8593,333,451
Short-term investments1,557,9371,110,364
Other investments373,120425,446
Other secured assets 14,250
Total other assets and (liabilities)95051,170
Total assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis5,319,8664,934,681
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
  
Total fixed maturity investments20,91421,785
Other investments363,637362,102
Total other assets and (liabilities)24,57716,499
Total assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis$ 409,128$ 400,386