Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries (Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | |||||||||
| Net premiums earned | $ 229,224 | $ 212,355 | $ 751,940 | $ 675,179 | ||||||||
| Net investment (loss) income | (27,940) | 59,570 | 65,669 | 151,452 | ||||||||
| Net foreign exchange gains (losses) | (2,650) | (529) | (6,511) | (12,480) | ||||||||
| Equity in earnings (losses) of other ventures | 4,794 | (6,740) | (13,831) | (1,424) | ||||||||
| Other income (loss) | (2,015) | 25,021 | 42,963 | 15,088 | ||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gains on investments | 16,983 | 92,342 | 46,748 | 210,593 | ||||||||
| Net other-than-temporary impairments | (449) | (449) | (829) | |||||||||
| Total revenues | 217,947 | 382,019 | 886,529 | 1,037,579 | ||||||||
| Net claims and claim expenses incurred | 77,830 | 77,936 | 857,628 | 156,473 | ||||||||
| Acquisition expenses | 26,057 | 26,143 | 72,275 | 76,158 | ||||||||
| Operational expenses | 42,169 | 36,970 | 126,298 | 120,160 | ||||||||
| Corporate expenses | 3,582 | 5,590 | 9,657 | 15,392 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 5,722 | 6,164 | 17,647 | 15,526 | ||||||||
| Total expenses | 155,360 | 152,803 | 1,083,505 | 383,709 | ||||||||
| (Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes | 62,587 | 229,216 | (196,976) | 653,870 | ||||||||
| Income tax benefit | 1,435 | 2,399 | 3,260 | 6,320 | ||||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | 64,022 | 231,615 | (193,716) | 660,190 | ||||||||
| Loss from discontinued operations | (965) | 21,234 | (12,585) | 51,562 | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | 63,057 | 252,849 | (206,301) | 711,752 | ||||||||
| Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (5,044) | (37,524) | 58,545 | (99,989) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe | 58,013 | 215,325 | (147,756) | 611,763 | ||||||||
| Dividends on preference shares | (8,750) | (10,575) | (26,250) | (31,725) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | 49,263 | 204,750 | (174,006) | 580,038 | ||||||||
RenaissanceRe [Member] | ||||||||||||
| Net investment (loss) income | 5,266 | 1,559 | 16,016 | 4,614 | ||||||||
| Net foreign exchange gains (losses) | (120) | 197 | (24) | (498) | ||||||||
| Other income (loss) | (367) | 212 | (172) | 479 | ||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gains on investments | 9,741 | 12,683 | 12,073 | 19,248 | ||||||||
| Total revenues | 14,520 | 14,651 | 27,893 | 23,843 | ||||||||
| Operational expenses | (979) | (1,176) | (3,395) | (2,584) | ||||||||
| Corporate expenses | 3,045 | 4,908 | 8,560 | 13,281 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 1,469 | 1,469 | 9,003 | 4,374 | ||||||||
| Total expenses | 3,535 | 5,201 | 14,168 | 15,071 | ||||||||
| (Loss) income before equity in net (loss) income of subsidiaries and taxes | 10,985 | 9,450 | 13,725 | 8,772 | ||||||||
| Equity in net (loss) income of subsidiaries | 47,028 | 205,875 | (161,771) | 602,991 | ||||||||
| (Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes | 58,013 | 215,325 | (148,046) | 611,763 | ||||||||
| Income tax benefit | 290 | |||||||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | 58,013 | 215,325 | (147,756) | 611,763 | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | 58,013 | 215,325 | (147,756) | 611,763 | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe | 58,013 | 215,325 | (147,756) | 611,763 | ||||||||
| Dividends on preference shares | (8,750) | (10,575) | (26,250) | (31,725) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | 49,263 | 204,750 | (174,006) | 580,038 | ||||||||
RenRe North America Holdings Inc. (Subsidiary Issuer) [Member] | ||||||||||||
| Net investment (loss) income | 423 | 21 | 642 | 901 | ||||||||
| Other income (loss) | (34) | (34) | ||||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gains on investments | 3,067 | 3,028 | (2,432) | |||||||||
| Total revenues | 3,490 | (13) | 3,670 | (1,565) | ||||||||
| Operational expenses | 2,197 | 2,162 | 5,241 | 3,696 | ||||||||
| Corporate expenses | 60 | 63 | 169 | 136 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 3,616 | 3,537 | 10,951 | 10,860 | ||||||||
| Total expenses | 5,873 | 5,762 | 16,361 | 14,692 | ||||||||
| (Loss) income before equity in net (loss) income of subsidiaries and taxes | (2,383) | (5,775) | (12,691) | (16,257) | ||||||||
| Equity in net (loss) income of subsidiaries | (2,689) | (19,506) | (3,421) | (47,756) | ||||||||
| (Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes | (5,072) | (25,281) | (16,112) | (64,013) | ||||||||
| Income tax benefit | 1,077 | 6,758 | 4,154 | 10,684 | ||||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | (3,995) | (18,523) | (11,958) | (53,329) | ||||||||
| Loss from discontinued operations | (965) | 21,234 | (12,585) | 51,562 | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | (4,960) | 2,711 | (24,543) | (1,767) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe | (4,960) | 2,711 | (24,543) | (1,767) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | (4,960) | 2,711 | (24,543) | (1,767) | ||||||||
Other RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. Subsidiaries And Eliminations (Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) [Member] | ||||||||||||
| Net premiums earned | 229,224 | [1] | 212,355 | [1] | 751,940 | [1] | 675,179 | [1] | ||||
| Net investment (loss) income | (31,756) | [1] | 57,990 | [1] | 52,887 | [1] | 145,937 | [1] | ||||
| Net foreign exchange gains (losses) | (2,530) | [1] | (726) | [1] | (6,487) | [1] | (11,982) | [1] | ||||
| Equity in earnings (losses) of other ventures | 4,794 | [1] | (6,740) | [1] | (13,831) | [1] | (1,424) | [1] | ||||
| Other income (loss) | (1,648) | [1] | 24,843 | [1] | 43,135 | [1] | 14,643 | [1] | ||||
| Net realized and unrealized gains on investments | 4,175 | [1] | 79,659 | [1] | 31,647 | [1] | 193,777 | [1] | ||||
| Net other-than-temporary impairments | (829) | [1] | ||||||||||
| Total revenues | 201,810 | [1] | 367,381 | [1] | 858,842 | [1] | 1,015,301 | [1] | ||||
| Net claims and claim expenses incurred | 77,830 | [1] | 77,936 | [1] | 857,628 | [1] | 156,473 | [1] | ||||
| Acquisition expenses | 26,057 | [1] | 26,143 | [1] | 72,275 | [1] | 76,158 | [1] | ||||
| Operational expenses | 40,951 | [1] | 37,392 | [1] | 124,452 | [1] | 119,048 | [1] | ||||
| Corporate expenses | 477 | [1] | 619 | [1] | 928 | [1] | 1,975 | [1] | ||||
| Interest expense | (8,557) | [1] | 4,695 | [1] | (6,803) | [1] | 11,152 | [1] | ||||
| Total expenses | 136,758 | [1] | 146,785 | [1] | 1,048,480 | [1] | 364,806 | [1] | ||||
| (Loss) income before equity in net (loss) income of subsidiaries and taxes | 65,052 | [1] | 220,596 | [1] | (189,638) | [1] | 650,495 | [1] | ||||
| (Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes | 65,052 | [1] | 220,596 | [1] | (189,638) | [1] | 650,495 | [1] | ||||
| Income tax benefit | 358 | [1] | (4,359) | [1] | (1,184) | [1] | (4,364) | [1] | ||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | 65,410 | [1] | 216,237 | [1] | (190,822) | [1] | 646,131 | [1] | ||||
| Net income (loss) | 65,410 | [1] | 216,237 | [1] | (190,822) | [1] | 646,131 | [1] | ||||
| Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (5,044) | [1] | (37,524) | [1] | 58,545 | [1] | (99,989) | [1] | ||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe | 60,366 | [1] | 178,713 | [1] | (132,277) | [1] | 546,142 | [1] | ||||
| Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | 60,366 | [1] | 178,713 | [1] | (132,277) | [1] | 546,142 | [1] | ||||
Consolidating Adjustments [Member] | ||||||||||||
| Net investment (loss) income | (1,873) | [2] | (3,876) | [2] | ||||||||
| Total revenues | (1,873) | [2] | (3,876) | [2] | ||||||||
| Operational expenses | (1,408) | [2] | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | 9,194 | [2] | (3,537) | [2] | 4,496 | [2] | (10,860) | [2] | ||||
| Total expenses | 9,194 | [2] | (4,945) | [2] | 4,496 | [2] | (10,860) | [2] | ||||
| (Loss) income before equity in net (loss) income of subsidiaries and taxes | (11,067) | [2] | 4,945 | [2] | (8,372) | [2] | 10,860 | [2] | ||||
| Equity in net (loss) income of subsidiaries | (44,339) | [2] | (186,369) | [2] | 165,192 | [2] | (555,235) | [2] | ||||
| (Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes | (55,406) | [2] | (181,424) | [2] | 156,820 | [2] | (544,375) | [2] | ||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | (55,406) | [2] | (181,424) | [2] | 156,820 | [2] | (544,375) | [2] | ||||
| Net income (loss) | (55,406) | [2] | (181,424) | [2] | 156,820 | [2] | (544,375) | [2] | ||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe | (55,406) | [2] | (181,424) | [2] | 156,820 | [2] | (544,375) | [2] | ||||
| Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | (55,406) | [2] | (181,424) | [2] | 156,820 | [2] | (544,375) | [2] | ||||
RenaissanceRe Consolidated [Member] | ||||||||||||
| Net premiums earned | 229,224 | 212,355 | 751,940 | 675,179 | ||||||||
| Net investment (loss) income | (27,940) | 59,570 | 65,669 | 151,452 | ||||||||
| Net foreign exchange gains (losses) | (2,650) | (529) | (6,511) | (12,480) | ||||||||
| Equity in earnings (losses) of other ventures | 4,794 | (6,740) | (13,831) | (1,424) | ||||||||
| Other income (loss) | (2,015) | 25,021 | 42,963 | 15,088 | ||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gains on investments | 16,983 | 92,342 | 46,748 | 210,593 | ||||||||
| Net other-than-temporary impairments | (829) | |||||||||||
| Total revenues | 217,947 | 382,019 | 886,529 | 1,037,579 | ||||||||
| Net claims and claim expenses incurred | 77,830 | 77,936 | 857,628 | 156,473 | ||||||||
| Acquisition expenses | 26,057 | 26,143 | 72,275 | 76,158 | ||||||||
| Operational expenses | 42,169 | 36,970 | 126,298 | 120,160 | ||||||||
| Corporate expenses | 3,582 | 5,590 | 9,657 | 15,392 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 5,722 | 6,164 | 17,647 | 15,526 | ||||||||
| Total expenses | 155,360 | 152,803 | 1,083,505 | 383,709 | ||||||||
| (Loss) income before equity in net (loss) income of subsidiaries and taxes | 62,587 | 229,216 | (196,976) | 653,870 | ||||||||
| (Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes | 62,587 | 229,216 | (196,976) | 653,870 | ||||||||
| Income tax benefit | 1,435 | 2,399 | 3,260 | 6,320 | ||||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | 64,022 | 231,615 | (193,716) | 660,190 | ||||||||
| Loss from discontinued operations | (965) | 21,234 | (12,585) | 51,562 | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | 63,057 | 252,849 | (206,301) | 711,752 | ||||||||
| Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (5,044) | (37,524) | 58,545 | (99,989) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe | 58,013 | 215,325 | (147,756) | 611,763 | ||||||||
| Dividends on preference shares | (8,750) | (10,575) | (26,250) | (31,725) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | $ 49,263 | $ 204,750 | $ (174,006) | $ 580,038 | ||||||||
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