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Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Gains and Losses (Realized and Unrealized) Relating to Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Included in Earnings (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 8 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 4 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Apr. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Successor [Member] | Variable Interest Entity [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period | $ (636,043)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember | $ 1,256,740 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember |  |
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held | (655,964)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember | 1,261,927 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember |  |
Predecessor [Member] | Variable Interest Entity [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period |  |  | 1,146,256 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember | 702,496 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held |  |  | 1,146,256 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember | 702,977 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Net Investment Income [Member] | Successor [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period | 1,870 us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1 / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 11,057 us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1 / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |  |
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held | 0 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 0 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |  |
Net Investment Income [Member] | Predecessor [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period |  |  | (33)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1 / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember | (3)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1 / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held |  |  | 0 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember | 0 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember
Realized Gains Or (Losses) and Other Settlements On Credit Derivative Contracts [Member] | Successor [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period | 9,778 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_RealizedGainsOrLossesAndOtherSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 3,043 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_RealizedGainsOrLossesAndOtherSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |  |
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held | 0 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_RealizedGainsOrLossesAndOtherSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 0 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_RealizedGainsOrLossesAndOtherSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |  |
Realized Gains Or (Losses) and Other Settlements On Credit Derivative Contracts [Member] | Predecessor [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period |  |  | 3,444 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_RealizedGainsOrLossesAndOtherSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember | 13,713 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_RealizedGainsOrLossesAndOtherSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held |  |  | 0 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_RealizedGainsOrLossesAndOtherSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember | 0 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_RealizedGainsOrLossesAndOtherSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember
Unrealized Gains Or (Losses) On Credit Derivative Contracts [Member] | Successor [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period | 183,091 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_UnrealizedGainsOrLossesOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 20,863 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_UnrealizedGainsOrLossesOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |  |
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held | 66,639 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_UnrealizedGainsOrLossesOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 15,789 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_UnrealizedGainsOrLossesOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |  |
Unrealized Gains Or (Losses) On Credit Derivative Contracts [Member] | Predecessor [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period |  |  | (63,828)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_UnrealizedGainsOrLossesOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember | (22,932)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_UnrealizedGainsOrLossesOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held |  |  | (63,840)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_UnrealizedGainsOrLossesOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember | (35,331)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_UnrealizedGainsOrLossesOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Successor [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period | 24,797 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | (69,298)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |  |
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held | 24,797 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | (69,298)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |  |
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Predecessor [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period |  |  | (28,162)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember | (70,415)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held |  |  | (28,162)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember | (78,505)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember
Other Income or (Loss) [Member] | Successor [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period | (677)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | (1,348)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |  |
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held | (677)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | (1,348)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |  |
Other Income or (Loss) [Member] | Predecessor [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period |  |  | (496)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember | 98,488 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held |  |  | $ (496)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember | $ (2,222)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_PredecessorMember

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- Definition The amount of gains or losses included in earnings attributable to unrealized gains or losses on financial instruments measured on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs that are still held at the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This item represents the amount of the total realized and unrealized gains or losses for the period which are included in the statement of income (or changes in net assets); the fair value of which assets and liabilities was or is measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition Amount of gain (loss) recognized in the income statement for financial instrument classified as an asset measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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