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Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Parent Company Only) - Condensed Statement of Total Comprehensive Income (Detail) - Successor [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other income (expense) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (706) | $ 17,445 | $ 7,150
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net | $ 956 | $ 13,510 | $ 1,763 | $ 3,942 | $ 2,191 | $ 2,853 | $ 7,441 | $ 9,334 | (20,171) | (21,819) | (25,659)
Net realized investment gains | 68 | (6,150) | (4,180) | 4,896 | (11,536) | (11,749) | (14,897) | (1,102) | (5,366) | (39,284) | (53,476)
Total revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 621,246 | 506,149 | 644,658
Expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax income (loss) | $ (6,917) | $ (185,466) | $ 13,992 | $ (105,860) | $ (86,059) | $ 116,720 | $ 61,511 | $ 12,854 | (284,251) | 105,026 | 510,058
Income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (44,464) | (30,709) | (17,364)
Net income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (328,715) | 74,317 | 492,694
Other comprehensive income, after tax: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (328,715) | 74,317 | 492,694
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities, net of deferred income taxes of $0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (81,520) | 67,900 | (159,730)
Gains (losses) on foreign currency translation, net of deferred income taxes of $0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 73,586 | (122,128) | (45,025)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (6,661) | (54,205) | (205,442)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ambac Financial Group, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (335,376) | 20,638 | 288,335
Ambac Financial Group, Inc Parent Company Only [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 24,411 | 13,493 | 9,826
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (550) | (289) | (155)
Net realized investment gains |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,575 | 7 | 27
Total revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17,286 | 13,197 | 9,644
Expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,913 | 11,486 | 8,922
Total expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,913 | 11,486 | 8,922
Pre-tax income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,373 | 1,711 | 722
Income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 29,398 | 28,739 | 70,811
Income before equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (42,771) | (30,450) | (71,533)
Equity in undistributed net income (loss) of subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (371,486) | 44,393 | 421,870
Net income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (328,715) | 74,843 | 493,403
Other comprehensive income, after tax: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (328,715) | 74,843 | 493,403
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities, net of deferred income taxes of $0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (81,520) | 67,900 | (159,730)
Gains (losses) on foreign currency translation, net of deferred income taxes of $0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 73,586 | (122,128) | (44,651)
Changes to postretirement benefit, net of tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,273 | 23 | (687)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (6,661) | (54,205) | (205,068)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ambac Financial Group, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (335,376) | $ 20,638 | $ 288,335

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