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Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Schedule of Investments [Abstract]
Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates	Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates White Mountains’s investments in unconsolidated affiliates represent investments in other companies in which White Mountains has a significant voting and economic interest but does not control the entity. Symetra In August 2015, Symetra announced it had entered into a definitive merger agreement with Sumitomo Life Insurance Company (“Sumitomo Life”) pursuant to which Sumitomo Life would acquire all of the outstanding shares of Symetra. Following the announcement and Symetra shareholders’ November 5, 2015 meeting to approve the transaction, White Mountains relinquished its representation on Symetra’s board of directors. As a result, White Mountains changed its accounting for Symetra common shares from the equity method to fair value as of December 31, 2015. During the fourth quarter of 2015, White Mountains recognized $258.8 million ($241.1 million after tax) of unrealized investment gains through net income, representing the difference between the carrying value of Symetra common shares under the equity method at the date of change and fair value at December 31, 2015. White Mountains also received a special dividend of $0.50 per share as part of the transaction that was paid in the third quarter of 2015. On February 1, 2016, Symetra closed its definitive merger agreement with Sumitomo Life and White Mountains received proceeds of $658.0 million, or $32.00 per common share. White Mountains recognized $4.7 million in pre-tax net investment gains associated with Symetra in the first quarter of 2016.