Variable Interest Entities	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entities	VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES Upsilon Fund Effective November 13, 2014, the Company incorporated Upsilon Fund, an exempted Bermuda limited segregated accounts company. Upsilon Fund was formed to provide a fund structure through which third party investors can invest in reinsurance risk managed by the Company. As a segregated accounts company, Upsilon Fund is permitted to establish segregated accounts to invest in and hold identified pools of assets and liabilities. Each pool of assets and liabilities in each segregated account is structured to be ring-fenced from any claims from the creditors of Upsilon Fund’s general account and from the creditors of other segregated accounts within Upsilon Fund. Third party investors purchase redeemable, non-voting preference shares linked to specific segregated accounts of Upsilon Fund and own 100% of these shares. Upsilon Fund is managed by RenaissanceRe Fund Management Ltd. in return for an expense override and profit commission. During 2015, the Company received an expense override and profit commission from Upsilon Fund of $1.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively (2014 - $Nil and $Nil, respectively). Upsilon Fund is considered a VIE as the voting rights of the equity investors are not proportionate with the respective obligation to absorb expected losses or the right to receive expected residual returns. The Company does not have the obligation to absorb the losses, nor the right to receive the benefits, in accordance with the accounting guidance, that could be significant to Upsilon Fund. However, the Company does have the power over the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Upsilon Fund. Since the Company does not meet both criteria noted above, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of Upsilon Fund, and accordingly, does not consolidate Upsilon Fund. The Company has not provided any financial or other support to Upsilon Fund that it was not contractually required to provide. Upsilon RFO Effective January 1, 2013, the Company formed and launched Upsilon RFO, a managed joint venture, and a Bermuda domiciled SPI, to provide additional capacity to the worldwide aggregate and per-occurrence retrocessional property catastrophe excess of loss market. The shareholders (other than the Class A shareholder) participate in substantially all of the profits or losses of Upsilon RFO while their shares remain outstanding. The shareholders (other than the Class A shareholder) indemnify Upsilon RFO against losses relating to insurance risk and therefore these shares have been accounted for as prospective reinsurance under FASB ASC Topic Financial Services - Insurance. Upsilon RFO is considered a VIE as it has insufficient equity capital to finance its activities without additional financial support. The Company is the primary beneficiary of Upsilon RFO as it: (i) has the power over the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Upsilon RFO and (ii) has the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive benefits, in accordance with the accounting guidance, that could be significant to Upsilon RFO. As a result, the Company consolidates Upsilon RFO and all significant inter-company transactions have been eliminated. Other than its equity investment in Upsilon RFO, the Company has not provided financial or other support to Upsilon RFO that it was not contractually required to provide. 2014 In conjunction with risks incepting during the first quarter of 2014, $172.4 million of Upsilon RFO non-voting preference shares were issued to unaffiliated third-party investors. Additionally, $109.7 million of the non-voting preference shares were issued to the Company, representing a 38.9% participation in the risks assumed by Upsilon RFO incepting during the first quarter of 2014. In addition, another third party investor supplied $15.0 million of capital through an insurance contract with the Company related to Upsilon RFO’s reinsurance portfolio. Inclusive of the insurance contract, the Company had a 33.6% participation in the original risks assumed by Upsilon RFO in conjunction with risks incepting during the first quarter of 2014. In conjunction with risks incepting during the second quarter of 2014, $43.1 million of Upsilon RFO non-voting preference shares were issued to unaffiliated third-party investors. Additionally, $13.5 million of the non-voting preference shares were issued to the Company, representing a 23.9% participation in the risks assumed by Upsilon RFO incepting during the second quarter of 2014. In addition, another third party investor supplied $5.0 million of capital through an insurance contract with the Company related to Upsilon RFO’s reinsurance portfolio. Inclusive of the insurance contract, the Company had a 15.0% participation in the original risks assumed by Upsilon RFO in conjunction with risks incepting during the second quarter of 2014. 2015 During 2015, Upsilon RFO returned capital to all of the investors who participated in risks incepting during 2014, including the Company. The total amount of capital agreed to be returned was $420.2 million, including $132.3 million related to the Company, with $418.5 million of this having been repaid to date, including $131.6 million related to the Company. In conjunction with risks incepting during 2015, $153.7 million of Upsilon RFO non-voting preference shares were issued to unaffiliated third-party investors through their investment in Upsilon Fund. Additionally, $42.5 million of the non-voting preference shares were issued to the Company, representing a 21.7% participation in the risks assumed by Upsilon RFO incepting during 2015. At December 31, 2015, the Company’s consolidated balance sheet included total assets and total liabilities of Upsilon RFO of $250.6 million and $250.5 million, respectively (2014 - $621.3 million and $621.3 million, respectively). At December 31, 2014, the Company’s consolidated total assets included $135.7 million of capital raised from third party investors and received by Upsilon RFO prior to December 31, 2014 for risks incepted during the first quarter of 2015. See “Note 24. Subsequent Events” for additional information related to Upsilon RFO transactions which occurred subsequent to December 31, 2015. Mona Lisa Re Ltd. (“Mona Lisa Re”) On March 14, 2013, Mona Lisa Re was licensed as a Bermuda domiciled SPI to provide reinsurance capacity to subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe, namely Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci, through reinsurance agreements which will be collateralized and funded by Mona Lisa Re through the issuance of one or more series of principal-at-risk variable rate notes to third-party investors. Upon issuance of a series of notes by Mona Lisa Re, all of the proceeds from the issuance are expected to be deposited into collateral accounts, separated by series, to fund any potential obligation under the reinsurance agreements entered into with Renaissance Reinsurance and/or DaVinci underlying such series of notes. The outstanding principal amount of each series of notes generally will be returned to holders of such notes upon the expiration of the risk period underlying such notes, unless an event occurs which causes a loss under the applicable series of notes, in which case the amount returned will be reduced by such noteholder’s pro rata share of such loss, as specified in the applicable governing documents of such notes. In addition, holders of such notes are generally entitled to interest payments, payable quarterly, as determined by the applicable governing documents of each series of notes. The Company concluded that Mona Lisa Re meets the definition of a VIE as it does not have sufficient equity capital to finance its activities. Therefore, the Company evaluated its relationship with Mona Lisa Re and concluded it does not have a variable interest in Mona Lisa Re. As a result, the financial position and results of operations of Mona Lisa Re are not consolidated by the Company. At December 31, 2015, the total assets and total liabilities of Mona Lisa Re were $184.0 million and $184.0 million, respectively (2014 - $184.0 million and $184.0 million, respectively). The only transactions related to Mona Lisa Re that are recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements are the ceded reinsurance agreements entered into by Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci which are accounted for as prospective reinsurance under FASB ASC Topic Financial Services - Insurance. Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci have together entered into ceded reinsurance contracts with Mona Lisa Re with gross premiums ceded of $7.3 million and $5.0 million, respectively, during 2015 (2014 - $7.4 million and $5.1 million, respectively). In addition, Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci recognized ceded premiums earned related to the ceded reinsurance contracts with Mona Lisa Re of $7.3 million and $5.0 million, respectively, during 2015 (2014 - $8.2 million and $5.7 million, respectively).

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Upsilon Fund

Effective November 13, 2014, the Company incorporated Upsilon Fund, an exempted Bermuda limited segregated accounts company. Upsilon Fund was formed to provide a fund structure through which third party investors can invest in reinsurance risk managed by the Company. As a segregated accounts company, Upsilon Fund is permitted to establish segregated accounts to invest in and hold identified pools of assets and liabilities. Each pool of assets and liabilities in each segregated account is structured to be ring-fenced from any claims from the creditors of Upsilon Fund’s general account and from the creditors of other segregated accounts within Upsilon Fund. Third party investors purchase redeemable, non-voting preference shares linked to specific segregated accounts of Upsilon Fund and own 100% of these shares. Upsilon Fund is managed by RenaissanceRe Fund Management Ltd. in return for an expense override and profit commission. During 2015, the Company received an expense override and profit commission from Upsilon Fund of $1.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively (2014 - $Nil and $Nil, respectively).

Upsilon Fund is considered a VIE as the voting rights of the equity investors are not proportionate with the respective obligation to absorb expected losses or the right to receive expected residual returns. The Company does not have the obligation to absorb the losses, nor the right to receive the benefits, in accordance with the accounting guidance, that could be significant to Upsilon Fund. However, the Company does have the power over the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Upsilon Fund. Since the Company does not meet both criteria noted above, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of Upsilon Fund, and accordingly, does not consolidate Upsilon Fund. The Company has not provided any financial or other support to Upsilon Fund that it was not contractually required to provide.

Upsilon RFO

Effective January 1, 2013, the Company formed and launched Upsilon RFO, a managed joint venture, and a Bermuda domiciled SPI, to provide additional capacity to the worldwide aggregate and per-occurrence retrocessional property catastrophe excess of loss market.

The shareholders (other than the Class A shareholder) participate in substantially all of the profits or losses of Upsilon RFO while their shares remain outstanding. The shareholders (other than the Class A shareholder) indemnify Upsilon RFO against losses relating to insurance risk and therefore these shares have been accounted for as prospective reinsurance under FASB ASC Topic Financial Services - Insurance.

Upsilon RFO is considered a VIE as it has insufficient equity capital to finance its activities without additional financial support. The Company is the primary beneficiary of Upsilon RFO as it: (i) has the power over the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Upsilon RFO and (ii) has the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive benefits, in accordance with the accounting guidance, that could be significant to Upsilon RFO. As a result, the Company consolidates Upsilon RFO and all significant inter-company transactions have been eliminated. Other than its equity investment in Upsilon RFO, the Company has not provided financial or other support to Upsilon RFO that it was not contractually required to provide.

2014

In conjunction with risks incepting during the first quarter of 2014, $172.4 million of Upsilon RFO non-voting preference shares were issued to unaffiliated third-party investors. Additionally, $109.7 million of the non-voting preference shares were issued to the Company, representing a 38.9% participation in the risks assumed by Upsilon RFO incepting during the first quarter of 2014. In addition, another third party investor supplied $15.0 million of capital through an insurance contract with the Company related to Upsilon RFO’s reinsurance portfolio. Inclusive of the insurance contract, the Company had a 33.6% participation in the original risks assumed by Upsilon RFO in conjunction with risks incepting during the first quarter of 2014.

In conjunction with risks incepting during the second quarter of 2014, $43.1 million of Upsilon RFO non-voting preference shares were issued to unaffiliated third-party investors. Additionally, $13.5 million of the non-voting preference shares were issued to the Company, representing a 23.9% participation in the risks assumed by Upsilon RFO incepting during the second quarter of 2014. In addition, another third party investor supplied $5.0 million of capital through an insurance contract with the Company related to Upsilon RFO’s reinsurance portfolio. Inclusive of the insurance contract, the Company had a 15.0% participation in the original risks assumed by Upsilon RFO in conjunction with risks incepting during the second quarter of 2014.

2015

During 2015, Upsilon RFO returned capital to all of the investors who participated in risks incepting during 2014, including the Company. The total amount of capital agreed to be returned was $420.2 million, including $132.3 million related to the Company, with $418.5 million of this having been repaid to date, including $131.6 million related to the Company.

In conjunction with risks incepting during 2015, $153.7 million of Upsilon RFO non-voting preference shares were issued to unaffiliated third-party investors through their investment in Upsilon Fund. Additionally, $42.5 million of the non-voting preference shares were issued to the Company, representing a 21.7% participation in the risks assumed by Upsilon RFO incepting during 2015.

At December 31, 2015, the Company’s consolidated balance sheet included total assets and total liabilities of Upsilon RFO of $250.6 million and $250.5 million, respectively (2014 - $621.3 million and $621.3 million, respectively). At December 31, 2014, the Company’s consolidated total assets included $135.7 million of capital raised from third party investors and received by Upsilon RFO prior to December 31, 2014 for risks incepted during the first quarter of 2015.

See “Note 24. Subsequent Events” for additional information related to Upsilon RFO transactions which occurred subsequent to December 31, 2015.

Mona Lisa Re Ltd. (“Mona Lisa Re”)

On March 14, 2013, Mona Lisa Re was licensed as a Bermuda domiciled SPI to provide reinsurance capacity to subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe, namely Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci, through reinsurance agreements which will be collateralized and funded by Mona Lisa Re through the issuance of one or more series of principal-at-risk variable rate notes to third-party investors.

Upon issuance of a series of notes by Mona Lisa Re, all of the proceeds from the issuance are expected to be deposited into collateral accounts, separated by series, to fund any potential obligation under the reinsurance agreements entered into with Renaissance Reinsurance and/or DaVinci underlying such series of notes. The outstanding principal amount of each series of notes generally will be returned to holders of such notes upon the expiration of the risk period underlying such notes, unless an event occurs which causes a loss under the applicable series of notes, in which case the amount returned will be reduced by such noteholder’s pro rata share of such loss, as specified in the applicable governing documents of such notes. In addition, holders of such notes are generally entitled to interest payments, payable quarterly, as determined by the applicable governing documents of each series of notes.

The Company concluded that Mona Lisa Re meets the definition of a VIE as it does not have sufficient equity capital to finance its activities. Therefore, the Company evaluated its relationship with Mona Lisa Re and concluded it does not have a variable interest in Mona Lisa Re. As a result, the financial position and results of operations of Mona Lisa Re are not consolidated by the Company. At December 31, 2015, the total assets and total liabilities of Mona Lisa Re were $184.0 million and $184.0 million, respectively (2014 - $184.0 million and $184.0 million, respectively).

The only transactions related to Mona Lisa Re that are recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements are the ceded reinsurance agreements entered into by Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci which are accounted for as prospective reinsurance under FASB ASC Topic Financial Services - Insurance. Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci have together entered into ceded reinsurance contracts with Mona Lisa Re with gross premiums ceded of $7.3 million and $5.0 million, respectively, during 2015 (2014 - $7.4 million and $5.1 million, respectively). In addition, Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci recognized ceded premiums earned related to the ceded reinsurance contracts with Mona Lisa Re of $7.3 million and $5.0 million, respectively, during 2015 (2014 - $8.2 million and $5.7 million, respectively).