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Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Changes in Level 3 Fair Value Category (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2014 Successor Ambac [Member] Investment by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Successor Ambac [Member] Derivatives by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Successor Ambac [Member] Asset-backed Securities [Member] Investment by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Successor Ambac [Member] U.S. Agency Obligations [Member] Investment by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Successor Ambac [Member] Collateralized Debt Obligations [Member] Investment by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Successor Ambac [Member] Corporate Obligations [Member] Investment by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Successor Ambac [Member] Interest Rate Swaps [Member] Derivatives by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Successor Ambac [Member] Credit Derivatives [Member] Derivatives by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member] Investment by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member] Derivatives by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member] Asset-backed Securities [Member] Investment by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member] U.S. Agency Obligations [Member] Investment by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member] Collateralized Debt Obligations [Member] Investment by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member] Corporate Obligations [Member] Investment by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member] Interest Rate Swaps [Member] Derivatives by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member] Credit Derivatives [Member] Derivatives by Class [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Level 3 [Member] Successor Ambac [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Level 3 [Member] Successor Ambac [Member] Investments Contract [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Level 3 [Member] Successor Ambac [Member] Loans [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Level 3 [Member] Successor Ambac [Member] Long-Term Debt [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Level 3 [Member] Successor Ambac [Member] Investments [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Level 3 [Member] Successor Ambac [Member] Other Assets [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Level 3 [Member] Successor Ambac [Member] Derivative Financial Instruments, Liabilities [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Level 3 [Member] Predecessor Ambac [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Level 3 [Member] Predecessor Ambac [Member] Investments Contract [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Level 3 [Member] Predecessor Ambac [Member] Loans [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Level 3 [Member] Predecessor Ambac [Member] Long-Term Debt [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Level 3 [Member] Predecessor Ambac [Member] Investments [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Level 3 [Member] Predecessor Ambac [Member] Other Assets [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Level 3 [Member] Predecessor Ambac [Member] Derivative Financial Instruments, Liabilities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | $ 67,783 | $ (186,934) | $ 64,073 | $ 208 |  | $ 3,502 | $ (92,612) | $ (94,322) | $ 60,402 | $ (322,337) | $ 50,264 |  | $ 6,482 | $ 3,656 | $ (108,752) | $ (213,585) | $ 14,253,705 | $ 2,475,182 | $ 13,398,895 | $ (1,514,605) | $ 67,783 | $ 13,384 | $ (186,934) | $ 14,416,488 | $ 2,261,294 | $ 15,359,073 | $ (2,956,501) | $ 60,402 | $ 14,557 | $ (322,337)
Additions of VIEs consolidated |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Included in earnings | 419 | (14,249) | 443 |  |  | (24) | (21,631) | 7,382 | (23) | (3,162) |  |  | (3) | (20) | (15,949) | 12,787 | 172,538 | 55,745 | 321,847 | (190,962) | 419 | (262) | (14,249) | 566,845 | 297,294 | 400,456 | (127,393) | (23) | (327) | (3,162)
Included in other comprehensive income | (217) |  | (295) |  |  | 78 |  |  | 698 |  | 569 |  | 113 | 16 |  |  | 86,799 | 15,835 | 79,802 | (8,621) | (217) |  |  | (904,833) | (143,981) | (955,455) | 193,905 | 698 |  |
Purchases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 70,000 |  | 70,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuances |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Settlements | (854) | (1,299) | (854) |  |  |  | (524) | (775) | (3,286) | (3,190) | (599) |  | (2,687) |  | (681) | (2,509) | (173,451) |  | (601,092) | 429,794 | (854) |  | (1,299) | (688,875) |  | (687,263) | 4,864 | (3,286) |  | (3,190)
Transfers in Level 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 0 |  |  | 0 |  |  |
Transfers out of Level 3 | (208) |  |  | (208) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (208) |  |  |  | (208) |  |  | 974,536 |  |  | 974,536 |  |  |
Deconsolidation of VIEs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, end of period | 66,923 | (202,482) | 63,367 |  |  | 3,556 | (114,767) | (87,715) | 57,791 | (328,689) | 50,234 | 0 | 3,905 | 3,652 | (125,382) | (203,307) | 14,409,383 | 2,546,762 | 13,269,452 | (1,284,394) | 66,923 | 13,122 | (202,482) | 14,364,161 | 2,414,607 | 14,116,811 | (1,910,589) | 57,791 | 14,230 | (328,689)
The amount of total gains/(losses) included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date |  | $ (15,024) |  |  |  |  | $ (21,631) | $ 6,607 |  | $ (5,684) |  |  |  |  | $ (15,949) | $ 10,265 | $ 169,349 | $ 55,745 | $ 316,714 | $ (187,824) |  | $ (262) | $ (15,024) | $ 564,346 | $ 297,294 | $ 400,456 | $ (127,393) |  | $ (327) | $ (5,684)

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- Definition Fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs added as a result of new consolidated variable interest entities. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs removed as a result of the deconsolidation of variable interest entities. + References No definition available. + Details
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