v2.4.0.6
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries (Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2011
Revenues    
Net premiums earned $ 278,665 $ 305,541
Net investment income 66,971 60,281
Net foreign exchange (losses) gains (1,460) 660
Equity in earnings (losses) of other ventures 5,470 (23,753)
Other income (loss) (39,094) 50,145
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 46,113 (5,214)
Net other-than-temporary impairments (134) 0
Total revenues 356,531 387,660
Expenses    
Net claims and claim expenses incurred 15,552 628,537
Acquisition expenses 24,111 32,335
Operational expenses 42,383 41,830
Corporate expenses 4,811 2,064
Interest expense 5,718 6,195
Total expenses 92,575 710,961
Income (loss) before equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries and taxes 263,956 (323,301)
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries 0 0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes 263,956 (323,301)
Income tax benefit (expense) 37 52
Income (loss) from continuing operations 263,993 (323,249)
Loss from discontinued operations (173) (1,526)
Net income (loss) 263,820 (324,775)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (53,641) 85,492
Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe 210,179 (239,283)
Dividends on preference shares (8,750) (8,750)
Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders 201,429 (248,033)
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (Parent Guarantor) [Member]
    
Revenues    
Net premiums earned 0 0
Net investment income 4,448 5,164
Net foreign exchange (losses) gains 20 91
Equity in earnings (losses) of other ventures 0 0
Other income (loss) 92 166
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 3,512 (992)
Net other-than-temporary impairments 0  
Total revenues 8,072 4,429
Expenses    
Net claims and claim expenses incurred 0 0
Acquisition expenses 0 0
Operational expenses (1,311) (1,220)
Corporate expenses 4,178 2,041
Interest expense 1,469 4,975
Total expenses 4,336 5,796
Income (loss) before equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries and taxes 3,736 (1,367)
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries 206,443 (238,206)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes 210,179 (239,573)
Income tax benefit (expense) 0 290
Income (loss) from continuing operations 210,179 (239,283)
Loss from discontinued operations 0 0
Net income (loss) 210,179 (239,283)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe 210,179 (239,283)
Dividends on preference shares (8,750) (8,750)
Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders 201,429 (248,033)
RenRe North America Holdings Inc. (Subsidiary Issuer) [Member]
    
Revenues    
Net premiums earned 0 0
Net investment income 269 16
Net foreign exchange (losses) gains 0 0
Equity in earnings (losses) of other ventures 0 0
Other income (loss) 0 0
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 1,044 0
Net other-than-temporary impairments 0  
Total revenues 1,313 16
Expenses    
Net claims and claim expenses incurred 0 0
Acquisition expenses 0 0
Operational expenses 2,008 1,502
Corporate expenses 93 61
Interest expense 3,617 3,718
Total expenses 5,718 5,281
Income (loss) before equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries and taxes (4,405) (5,265)
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries (30,268) 1,836
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes (34,673) (3,429)
Income tax benefit (expense) (2,568) 1,565
Income (loss) from continuing operations (37,241) (1,864)
Loss from discontinued operations (173) (1,526)
Net income (loss) (37,414) (3,390)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe (37,414) (3,390)
Dividends on preference shares 0 0
Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders (37,414) (3,390)
Other RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. Subsidiaries and Eliminations (Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) [Member]
    
Revenues    
Net premiums earned 278,665 [1] 305,541 [1]
Net investment income 64,359 [1] 55,202 [1]
Net foreign exchange (losses) gains (1,480) [1] 569 [1]
Equity in earnings (losses) of other ventures 5,470 [1] (23,753) [1]
Other income (loss) (39,186) [1] 49,979 [1]
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 41,557 [1] (4,222) [1]
Net other-than-temporary impairments (134) [1]  
Total revenues 349,251 [1] 383,316 [1]
Expenses    
Net claims and claim expenses incurred 15,552 [1] 628,537 [1]
Acquisition expenses 24,111 [1] 32,335 [1]
Operational expenses 41,686 [1] 41,548 [1]
Corporate expenses 540 [1] (38) [1]
Interest expense 632 [1] 1,109 [1]
Total expenses 82,521 [1] 703,491 [1]
Income (loss) before equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries and taxes 266,730 [1] (320,175) [1]
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries 0 [1] 0 [1]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes 266,730 [1] (320,175) [1]
Income tax benefit (expense) 2,605 [1] (1,803) [1]
Income (loss) from continuing operations 269,335 [1] (321,978) [1]
Loss from discontinued operations 0 [1] 0 [1]
Net income (loss) 269,335 [1] (321,978) [1]
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (53,641) [1] 85,492 [1]
Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe 215,694 [1] (236,486) [1]
Dividends on preference shares 0 [1] 0 [1]
Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders 215,694 [1] (236,486) [1]
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
    
Revenues    
Net premiums earned 0 [2] 0 [2]
Net investment income (2,105) [2] (101) [2]
Net foreign exchange (losses) gains 0 [2] 0 [2]
Equity in earnings (losses) of other ventures 0 [2] 0 [2]
Other income (loss) 0 [2] 0 [2]
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 0 [2] 0 [2]
Net other-than-temporary impairments 0 [2]  
Total revenues (2,105) [2] (101) [2]
Expenses    
Net claims and claim expenses incurred 0 [2] 0 [2]
Acquisition expenses 0 [2] 0 [2]
Operational expenses 0 [2] 0 [2]
Corporate expenses 0 [2] 0 [2]
Interest expense 0 [2] (3,607) [2]
Total expenses 0 [2] (3,607) [2]
Income (loss) before equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries and taxes (2,105) [2] 3,506 [2]
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries (176,175) [2] 236,370 [2]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes (178,280) [2] 239,876 [2]
Income tax benefit (expense) 0 [2] 0 [2]
Income (loss) from continuing operations (178,280) [2] 239,876 [2]
Loss from discontinued operations 0 [2] 0 [2]
Net income (loss) (178,280) [2] 239,876 [2]
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 [2] 0 [2]
Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe (178,280) [2] 239,876 [2]
Dividends on preference shares 0 [2] 0 [2]
Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders $ (178,280) [2] $ 239,876 [2]
[1] Includes all other subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and eliminations.
[2] Includes Parent Guarantor and Subsidiary Issuer consolidating adjustments.