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Earnings Per Share | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract] |
Earnings Per Share | EARNINGS PER SHARE The Company accounts for its earnings per share in accordance with FASB ASC Topic Earnings per Share. Basic earnings per common share is based on weighted average common shares and excludes any dilutive effects of stock options and restricted stock. Diluted earnings per common share assumes the exercise of all dilutive stock options and restricted stock grants. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic Earnings per Share, earnings per share calculations use average common shares outstanding - basic, when the Company is in a net loss position for the period. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:
| Three months ended March 31, | 2012 |  | 2011 |
| (thousands of shares) |  |  |  |
| Numerator: |  |  |  |
| Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | $ | 201,429 |  |  | $ | (248,033 | ) |
| Amount allocated to participating common shareholders (1) | (3,404 | ) |  | 6,327 |  |
| Net income (loss) allocated to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | $ | 198,025 |  |  | $ | (241,706 | ) |
| Denominator: |  |  |  |
| Denominator for basic income (loss) per RenaissanceRe common share - weighted average common shares | 50,377 |  |  | 51,504 |  |
| Per common share equivalents of employee stock options and restricted shares | 604 |  |  | — |  |
| Denominator for diluted income (loss) per RenaissanceRe common share - adjusted weighted average common shares and assumed conversions | 50,981 |  |  | 51,504 |  |
| Basic income (loss) per RenaissanceRe common share | $ | 3.93 |  |  | $ | (4.69 | ) |
| Diluted income (loss) per RenaissanceRe common share | $ | 3.88 |  |  | $ | (4.69 | ) |
(1) | Represents earnings attributable to holders of unvested restricted shares issued under the Company’s 2001 Stock Incentive Plan and Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for earnings per share. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6920599&loc=d3e1252-109256 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 52 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945512&loc=d3e4984-109258 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 40 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6920599&loc=d3e1278-109256 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.21) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
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