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Income Taxes Income Taxes - NOL Usage Table (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Apr. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2010
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
TierABCCredit | $ 5,000 |  |
TierACreditUsage | 10,000 |  |
NOL allocated amount | 4,298,770 |  |
Tolling Payment Payable to AFG | $ 70,911 |  |
Tier C Tolling Payment Payable to IRS | 12.50% |  |
Tier D Tolling Payments Payable to IRS | 17.50% |  |
Ambac Assurance [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
AACNetTaxableIncome | $ 877,313 |  |
AACNetTaxableIncomeFromTierA | 479,000 |  |
AACNetTaxableIncomeFromTierB | 398,313 |  |
Ambac [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
Bankruptcy Claims, Amount Paid to Settle Claims |  | $ 1,900 |
Amount Of Loss Carry Forward Relinquish By Which Loss Carry Forward Exceed |  |  | $ 3,400,000
Segregated Account [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
Bankruptcy Claims, Amount Paid to Settle Claims |  | $ 100,000 |
Tier A [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
NOL allocated amount | $ 479,000 |  |
NOL applicable percentage | 15.00% |  |
Tier B [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
NOL allocated amount | $ 1,057,000 |  |
NOL applicable percentage | 40.00% |  |
Tier C [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
NOL allocated amount | $ 1,057,000 |  |
NOL applicable percentage | 10.00% |  |
Tier D [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
NOL allocated amount | $ 1,057,000 |  |
NOL applicable percentage | 15.00% |  |

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