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Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities (Tables) | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2017
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets and Liabilities, Net [Abstract] |
Components of VIE Gain (Loss) [Table Text Block] | Below is a schedule detailing the change in fair value of the various financial instruments within the consolidated FG VIEs, along with gains (losses) from consolidating and deconsolidating FG VIEs, that together comprise Income (loss) on variable interest entities for for the affected periods:
Three Months Ended March 31, |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Income (loss) on changes related to: |  |  |  |
Net fair value of VIE assets and liabilities |  | $ | 3,701 |  |  | $ | (27,163 | )
Consolidation / Deconsolidation |  | — |  |  | — |
Income (loss) on Variable Interest Entities |  | $ | 3,701 |  |  | $ | (27,163 | )
Summary of Fair Value of Fixed Income Securities, by Asset-Type, Held by Consolidated Variable Interest Entities |
| March 31, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Investments: |  |  |
Corporate obligations | $ | 2,663,719 |  |  | $ | 2,622,566 |
Total variable interest entity assets: fixed income securities | $ | 2,663,719 |  |  | $ | 2,622,566 |
Supplemental Information about Loans Held as Assets and Long-Term Debt Associated with Consolidated Variable Interest Entities | The following table provides supplemental information about the loans held as assets and long-term debt associated with the VIEs for which the fair value option has been elected as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
| Estimated fair value |  | Unpaid principal balance
March 31, 2017: |  |  |
Loans | $ | 11,015,305 |  |  | $ | 7,726,235 |
Long-term debt | 11,564,054 |  |  | 8,960,947 |
December 31, 2016: |  |  |
Loans | $ | 10,658,963 |  |  | $ | 7,641,756 |
Long-term debt | 11,155,936 |  |  | 8,854,530 |
Summary of Carrying Amount of Assets, Liabilities and Maximum Exposure to Loss of Ambac's Variable Interests in Non-Consolidated Variable Interest Entities | The following table displays the carrying amount of the assets, liabilities and maximum exposure to loss of Ambac’s variable interests in non-consolidated VIEs resulting from financial guarantee and derivative contracts by major underlying asset classes, as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
| Carrying Value of Assets and Liabilities
| Maximum Exposure To Loss (1) |  | Insurance Assets (2) |  | Insurance Liabilities (3) |  | Net Derivative Assets (Liabilities) (4)
March 31, 2017: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Global structured finance: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collateralized debt obligations | $ | 719,106 |  |  | $ | 202 |  |  | $ | 3,236 |  |  | $ | (147,064 | )
Mortgage-backed—residential | 14,325,870 |  |  | 717,384 |  |  | 3,151,852 |  |  | — |
Other consumer asset-backed | 2,366,997 |  |  | 26,376 |  |  | 304,839 |  |  | — |
Other commercial asset-backed | 1,599,921 |  |  | 62,885 |  |  | 63,865 |  |  | — |
Other | 2,960,327 |  |  | 62,761 |  |  | 342,402 |  |  | 11,262 |
Total global structured finance | 21,972,221 |  |  | 869,608 |  |  | 3,866,194 |  |  | (135,802 | )
Global public finance | 25,512,967 |  |  | 343,033 |  |  | 362,261 |  |  | (9,075 | )
Total | $ | 47,485,188 |  |  | $ | 1,212,641 |  |  | $ | 4,228,455 |  |  | $ | (144,877 | )
December 31, 2016: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Global structured finance: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collateralized debt obligations | $ | 761,451 |  |  | $ | 218 |  |  | $ | 3,319 |  |  | $ | (145,402 | )
Mortgage-backed—residential | 14,859,909 |  |  | 725,106 |  |  | 3,118,892 |  |  | — |
Other consumer asset-backed | 2,391,604 |  |  | 26,758 |  |  | 302,335 |  |  | — |
Other commercial asset-backed | 1,686,256 |  |  | 66,277 |  |  | 64,961 |  |  | — |
Other | 2,963,521 |  |  | 66,091 |  |  | 412,929 |  |  | 13,347 |
Total global structured finance | 22,662,741 |  |  | 884,450 |  |  | 3,902,436 |  |  | (132,055 | )
Global public finance | 25,608,471 |  |  | 338,587 |  |  | 359,142 |  |  | (8,827 | )
Total | $ | 48,271,212 |  |  | $ | 1,223,037 |  |  | $ | 4,261,578 |  |  | $ | (140,882 | )
(1) | Maximum exposure to loss represents the maximum future payments of principal and interest on insured obligations and derivative contracts plus Deferred Amounts and accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Ambac’s maximum exposure to loss does not include the benefit of any financial instruments (such as reinsurance or hedge contracts) that Ambac may utilize to mitigate the risks associated with these variable interests.
(2) | Insurance assets represent the amount recorded in “Premium receivables” and “Subrogation recoverable” for financial guarantee contracts on Ambac’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(3) | Insurance liabilities represent the amount recorded in “Loss and loss expense reserves” and “Unearned premiums” for financial guarantee contracts on Ambac’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(4) | Net derivative assets (liabilities) represent the fair value recognized on credit derivative contracts and interest rate swaps on Ambac’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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- Definition [Table Text Block] for Components of VIE Gain (Loss) [Table] + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Tabular presentation of fair value of fixed income securities by asset type held by consolidated variable interest entities. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Supplemental information about the loans held as assets and long-term debt associated with consolidated variable interest entities, when reported under the fair value option. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Tabular presentation of the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interests in non-consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) resulting from financial guarantee and credit derivative contracts, and the maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with such VIEs. + References No definition available. + Details
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